Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Stillingene legges ut på nettet og deles på e-post. - The positions are posted online and shared by email.

Norwegian makes a simple passive by adding -s to the verb. From legge (to put/lay/post), the present passive is legges, which means “is/are put” or, in this context, “is/are posted.” So Stillingene legges ut = “The positions are posted.”

Why is ut placed after legges (i.e., legges ut) and not before?

Legge ut is a particle verb. In Norwegian, the particle typically follows the verb (also in the -s passive), so you get legges ut, not “ut legges.” In the active you’d say legger … ut (e.g., Vi legger stillingene ut).

Can I say blir lagt ut instead of legges ut? What’s the difference?

Both are correct passives.

legges ut = s-passive, often used for general/habitual statements or neutral descriptions.
blir lagt ut = bli-passive, often felt a bit more event-focused (“get posted”), and common when referring to a specific occasion or time. Meaning overlaps a lot; choose based on style and context.

What tense/aspect is this? Could it also mean “are being posted”?

It’s present passive. Depending on context, it can correspond to English simple present (“are posted”) or present progressive (“are being posted”). Norwegian doesn’t force the aspect distinction here.

Why is it på nettet and not i nettet?

For media/platforms, Norwegian typically uses på: på nettet, på TV, på radio. You use i for things like i avisa (“in the newspaper”). So “on the internet” is på nettet.

Why is nettet definite? Can I say på nett?

Yes. På nettet = “on the internet (the web),” with a slightly more concrete feel. På nett is also common and can feel a bit more general like “online.” Both are idiomatic; choose freely unless your style guide prefers one.

What exactly does stillingene mean?

Stillingene is the definite plural of stilling (“position/job opening”). Forms:

en stilling (a position)
stillingen (the position)
stillinger (positions)
stillingene (the positions)

Could I say stillinger legges ut … instead of stillingene?

Yes. Stillingene suggests a known/defined set (“the positions [we talked about]”). Stillinger legges ut … is more generic (“positions are posted …”). Use definite when you have a specific set in mind; use indefinite for general statements.

How would I say the same thing in the active voice?

Common options:

Vi legger stillingene ut på nettet og deler dem på e-post.
Arbeidsgiverne legger stillingene ut på nettet og deler dem på e-post. Note the object pronoun dem (“them”) for stillingene.

What are the past participles of legge and dele, and how do I use them in passive?

legge → lagt; passive/perfect: blir lagt (ut) / er lagt (ut)
dele → delt; passive/perfect: blir delt / er delt Use blir for eventive passive and er for a result/state: Stillingene er lagt ut (“have been posted/are posted [now]”).

How do I negate this sentence?

Place ikke before the particle/verb complement:

Stillingene legges ikke ut på nettet, og de deles ikke på e-post. You can also use the correlative negation:
Stillingene legges verken ut på nettet eller deles på e-post.

Is på e-post the only option? What about via or per?

All are possible:

på e-post (very common, idiomatic)
via e-post (also common, slightly more “via”/channel nuance)
per e-post (more formal/bureaucratic) Avoid over e-post or med e-post in standard usage.

Is e-post written with a hyphen, and can it be counted?

Both e-post and epost are accepted; the hyphenated form is common in formal writing. As a medium it’s often uncountable (e.g., på e-post), but in everyday language many say en e-post (melding) for “an email,” with plural e-poster.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Approximate guide (Bokmål):

Stillingene: STIL-ling-eh-neh
legges: LEH-ges
ut: oot
på: paw (long vowel)
nettet: NET-teh
og: oh (often reduced)
deles: DEH-les
e-post: EH-post Stress typically on the first syllable of each content word.

Are there synonyms I might see for legges ut and deles?

Yes:

legges ut → publiseres, postes (colloquial), annonseres (if about ads)
deles → sendes på e-post, distribueres (formal), sirkuleres (less common)

How do I say “will be posted online and shared by email”?

Common futures:

Stillingene skal legges ut på nettet og deles på e-post.
With a time adverb: Stillingene blir lagt ut på nettet i morgen og delt på e-post. You can also say: kommer til å bli lagt ut … og bli delt …, but it’s heavier.