Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker. - The stage light makes the stage beautiful.

In this sentence we are talking about a particular, known stage lighting setup (the one being used right now), so Norwegian prefers the definite form.

Norwegian often uses the definite form where English might use the or sometimes nothing at all, especially when the thing is specific or already known from context.

What are the parts of the word scenelyset?

Scenelyset is a compound word with a definite ending:

scene = stage
lys = light
→ scenelys = stage light / stage lighting (a neuter noun: et scenelys)
Definite ending for neuter singular: -et
→ scenelyset = the stage lighting

So:

et scenelys = a stage light / some stage lighting
scenelyset = the stage light(ing)

Why is gjør used here, and not er?

Gjøre (gjør in the present tense) means to make / to cause in this kind of structure:

Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.
= The stage lighting makes the stage beautiful.

If you used er, you would only describe a state, not a cause:

Scenen er vakker. = The stage is beautiful. (just a description)
Scenelyset er vakkert. = The stage lighting is beautiful.

With gjør, Norwegian expresses that one thing causes another thing to be in a certain state:

X gjør Y adj. = X makes Y (be) adj.

What is the grammatical role of scenen and vakker in this sentence?

In Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker:

Scenelyset = subject (what does the action)
gjør = verb
scenen = direct object (what is affected)
vakker = object complement / predicative (an adjective describing the object)

So the structure is:
Subject – verb – object – object complement
= Scenelyset – gjør – scenen – vakker
= The stage lighting – makes – the stage – beautiful.

Why is the adjective vakker and not vakkert or vakre?

Because it refers to scenen, which is a singular common-gender noun (en scene).

The basic forms of vakker are:

vakker – singular, common gender (en/ei-word)
- en vakker scene
vakkert – singular, neuter (et-word)
- et vakkert hus
vakre – plural (all genders)
- vakre scener, vakre hus

In predicative position (after er, blir, gjør etc.), the same pattern applies:

Scenen er vakker.
Huset er vakkert.
Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.
Scenelyset gjør huset vakkert.

Since scenen behaves like en scene, you must use vakker.

Can I change the word order, like Scenelyset gjør vakker scenen?

No, that word order is wrong in standard Norwegian.

In this construction, the normal order is:

Subject – verb – object – adjective
→ Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.

You cannot put the adjective in front of the object here:

✗ Scenelyset gjør vakker scenen. (incorrect)

You can move the subject or put adverbs in different places in other sentences, but the object + adjective complement normally stay together in the order object – adjective in this pattern.

Why are both scenelyset and scenen in the definite form?

Because we are talking about specific, known things:

scenelyset = the stage lighting (in this room / at this show)
scenen = the stage (this particular stage)

If you made them indefinite, the meaning becomes more general:

Scenelys gjør en scene vakker.
= Stage lighting makes a stage beautiful. (a general statement, any stage)

In the original sentence, both are definite because you have a concrete situation in mind: that lighting, that stage.

Is scene masculine or feminine in Norwegian, and does that matter here?

In Bokmål, scene can be treated as masculine or feminine:

masculine: en scene – scenen
feminine: ei scene – scena

In this sentence, it is treated as masculine/common gender:

scenen = the stage

If you choose the feminine form, the sentence could also be:

Scenelyset gjør scena vakker.

The adjective vakker stays the same in the singular for both masculine and feminine, so the gender choice only changes the noun ending (scenen vs scena), not the adjective form.

Could I say Scenelyset er vakkert instead? What would be the difference in meaning?

Yes, but it would mean something different.

Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.
= The stage lighting makes the stage beautiful.
Focus: effect on the stage.
Scenelyset er vakkert.
= The stage lighting is beautiful.
Focus: the lighting itself is beautiful.

Notice the agreement:

scenelyset is neuter (et scenelys), so the adjective must be vakkert:
- Scenelyset er vakkert.
scenen is common gender (en scene), so:
- Scenen er vakker.
- Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.

Are there other common adjectives I could use instead of vakker in this pattern?

Yes, many adjectives work in the same structure X gjør Y adj. For example:

pen (pretty, nice)
- Scenelyset gjør scenen pen.
fin (nice)
- Scenelyset gjør scenen fin.
imponerende (impressive)
- Scenelyset gjør scenen imponerende.
magisk (magical)
- Scenelyset gjør scenen magisk.
spennende (exciting)
- Scenelyset gjør scenen spennende.

All of these keep the same grammar:
Subject (X) + gjør + object (Y) + adjective.

How do you pronounce Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker?

In a standard Eastern Norwegian pronunciation, roughly:

Scenelyset → [ˈseːnəˌlyːsə]
gjør → [ˈjøːr]
scenen → [ˈseːnən]
vakker → [ˈvɑkːər]

So the whole sentence:

Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.
≈ [ˈseːnəˌlyːsə ˈjøːr ˈseːnən ˈvɑkːər]

Notes:

sc before e is pronounced like s, not like English “sh”.
The kk in vakker is a long k sound.
Norwegian word stress is on the first syllable in each of these words.

Is this a common sentence pattern in Norwegian, and can you give more examples?

Yes, the pattern X gjør Y adj. is very common. It means X makes Y (be) adj. Some examples:

Musikken gjør meg glad.
= The music makes me happy.
Været gjør dagen trist.
= The weather makes the day sad.
Kaffen gjør meg våken.
= Coffee makes me awake.
Fargene gjør rommet lyst.
= The colors make the room bright.
Lydene gjør huset skummelt.
= The sounds make the house spooky.

Your sentence fits exactly into this pattern:

Scenelyset gjør scenen vakker.
= The stage lighting makes the stage beautiful.