Hun låser opp døren når jeg ringer på.

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Breakdown of Hun låser opp døren når jeg ringer på.

• hun: she
• når: when
• døren: the door

Questions & Answers about Hun låser opp døren når jeg ringer på.

Is låser opp one verb or two?

It’s a particle verb: låse opp = “to unlock.” The particle opp belongs with the verb.

• With a full noun object, the most natural order is particle before the object: Hun låser opp døren.
• With a pronoun object, the particle goes after the pronoun: Hun låser den opp. (Not: Hun låser opp den.)

Why is it døren and not døra? Are both correct?

Yes, both are correct in Bokmål. Dør can be masculine or feminine:

• Masculine: en dør – døren
• Feminine: ei dør – døra Pick one gender for a noun and be consistent within a text. Døra often feels more colloquial/regional; døren can feel a bit more formal/traditional.

What’s the difference between låse opp and åpne?

• låse opp = unlock (remove the lock, not necessarily open the door)
• åpne (or colloquially lukke opp) = open (move the door so it’s open) So Hun låser opp døren may or may not include opening it; Hun åpner døren means she actually opens it.

Do I need the på in ringer på? What’s the difference from ringer?