Barna løper bortover sykkelstien.

the child

Breakdown of Barna løper bortover sykkelstien.

• løpe: to run
• sykkelstien: the bike path
• bortover: along

Questions & Answers about Barna løper bortover sykkelstien.

What does the form barna mean, and why does it end in -a?

Barna means the children. The noun barn (child/children) is neuter and irregular:

• singular indefinite: et barn (a child)
• singular definite: barnet (the child)
• plural indefinite: barn (children)
• plural definite: barna (the children)

The -a ending here is the definite plural ending. In standard Bokmål, the correct definite plural is barna (not “barnene”).

Is løper a present-tense form, and does Norwegian have a separate “-ing” form like English?

Yes, løper is present tense of å løpe (to run). Norwegian uses the simple present for ongoing actions, so Barna løper … covers English “The children are running …” You do not say “er løper.” A true continuous form isn’t used in normal speech.

How is the verb å løpe conjugated?

• infinitive: å løpe
• present: løper
• preterite (simple past): løp
• past participle/supine: løpt (used with “har”) Examples:
• Barna løp … (The children ran …)
• Barna har løpt … (The children have run …)