Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Utstyr lånes gratis på biblioteket. - Equipment is borrowed for free at the library.

It’s the s-passive in Norwegian. lånes = “is/are borrowed/lent.” It’s used for general statements where no specific subject is named, much like signs or rules. Here it communicates a policy rather than what a particular person is doing.

Does lånes mean “is lent” or “is borrowed” here?

It can suggest either in isolation, because Norwegian låne covers both lend and borrow. Context resolves it:

If you mean the library lends out equipment, you’d normally say: Utstyr lånes ut gratis (på biblioteket) or active: Biblioteket låner ut utstyr gratis.
If you mean people can borrow equipment, Utstyr lånes gratis (på biblioteket) is fine and common on signs. Many learners prefer to avoid ambiguity with: Utstyr kan lånes gratis.

Can I say Utstyr kan lånes gratis på biblioteket?

Yes. Adding kan emphasizes possibility/permission: “equipment can be borrowed.” It’s very natural and often clearer for learners.

Why is there no article before utstyr?

Because utstyr (“equipment”) is usually an uncountable mass noun in Norwegian. In the indefinite, you typically use it without any article: utstyr. If you mean specific, known equipment, you’d use the definite: utstyret.

What gender are utstyr and bibliotek, and what are their definite forms?

Both are neuter (n).

utstyr (indefinite), utstyret (definite)
bibliotek (indefinite), biblioteket (definite)

Why is it på biblioteket and not i biblioteket?

With institutions and public places, Norwegian often uses på to mean “at” in a functional sense: på skolen, på jobb, på kino, på biblioteket. i biblioteket focuses on being inside the physical building and is used when you mean “inside the library space.”

Can I drop the definite and say på bibliotek?

Not in standard Norwegian when you mean “at the library.” Use:

på biblioteket = at the (known) library
på et bibliotek = at a library (unspecified)

Could I front the place phrase? For example: På biblioteket lånes utstyr gratis?

Yes. Norwegian main clauses are V2 (the finite verb is in second position). When you front På biblioteket, the verb (lånes) must come next: På biblioteket lånes utstyr gratis.

Where should gratis go? Is Utstyr lånes på biblioteket gratis okay?

Default adverbial order favors manner before place, so Utstyr lånes gratis på biblioteket is the most neutral. Utstyr lånes på biblioteket gratis is possible but sounds a bit tacked-on; it can add end-focus on “gratis.”

Is gratis an adjective or an adverb here, and does it change form?

Here it functions adverbially (“for free”). gratis is invariable in Norwegian: it does not take endings for gender/number/definiteness. Examples:

Det er gratis. (It’s free.)
Å låne er gratis. (Borrowing is free.)

What’s the difference between låne, låne ut, låne bort, and leie?

låne: can mean both “borrow” and “lend,” context-dependent.
låne ut: to lend (esp. by institutions). Clear and common: Biblioteket låner ut bøker.
låne bort: to lend (often more personal/informal): Kan du låne bort boka?
leie: to rent (you pay). If there’s a fee, use leie, not låne.

Can I make it more directly addressed to the reader, like “You can…”?

Yes: Du kan låne utstyr gratis på biblioteket. That’s more user-focused and is common in informational texts. The original passive is more impersonal/sign-like.

What would Utstyret lånes gratis på biblioteket mean?

That uses the definite subject utstyret (“the equipment”) and implies a specific, previously identified set of equipment. The original indefinite utstyr states a general policy about equipment in general.

What tense is lånes, and what nuance does it give?

Present tense s-passive. It typically states a general rule or habitual practice (as on signs). Context can also make it a present-time passive (“is being borrowed”), but policy reading is most natural here.

How do I pronounce the tricky bits like utstyr and biblioteket?

utstyr: roughly “OOT-styur.” The Norwegian u is fronted (like the vowel in French “tu”), and y is the rounded front vowel (like German “ü” in “Hütte”).
biblioteket: “BIB-lee-oh-TEH-ket.” Stress on the “-tek-” syllable.

If I want to say “some equipment,” do I use noen or noe?

Use noe with uncountable nouns: noe utstyr (“some equipment”). noen is for countable plurals: noen bøker (“some books”).

What are the main forms of låne I should know?

Infinitive: å låne
Present: låner
Preterite: lånte
Past participle: lånt
s-passive (present): lånes
Periphrastic passive: blir lånt (e.g., Utstyr blir lånt gratis — also correct, but the s-passive is more concise here)