Barna leker i bakgården, mens vi drikker te på balkongen.

The children play in the backyard/courtyard while we drink tea on the balcony.

Breakdown of Barna leker i bakgården, mens vi drikker te på balkongen.

• drikke: to drink
• vi: we
• barnet: the child
• i: in

Questions & Answers about Barna leker i bakgården, mens vi drikker te på balkongen.

Why is it Barna and not something with an article like “the children”?

Norwegian usually marks definiteness with an ending, not a separate “the.” The noun barn (child) is neuter and irregular:

• Singular indefinite: et barn
• Singular definite: barnet
• Plural indefinite: barn
• Plural definite: barna (= the children)

So Barna on its own already means the children. If you say de barna, it means those children (not just “the children”).

Is leker here a verb or the noun “toys”? How can I tell?

Here it’s the verb leker (present tense of å leke, to play): Barna leker … = “The children are playing …” Context tells you which it is:

• Verb: Barna leker i bakgården. (The children are playing…)
• Noun (plural of “toy”): Barna har mange leker. (The children have many toys.)

Why is it leker and not spiller for “play”?