Word
Legg nøklene nederst i vesken.
Meaning
Put the keys at the bottom of the bag.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Questions & Answers about Legg nøklene nederst i vesken.
Why is Legg used here instead of Legger?
Legg is the imperative form of the verb å legge (to put / to lay). Imperatives in Norwegian usually use the verb stem and don’t include a subject:
- Du legger nøklene … = You are putting the keys … (present tense statement)
- Legg nøklene … = Put the keys … (command/instruction)
What exactly does nøklene mean, and why does it end in -ene?
Nøklene means the keys (definite plural).
Norwegian often marks definiteness with an ending:
- en nøkkel = a key
- nøkler = keys
- nøklene = the keys
The ending -ene is a common definite plural ending (especially for many masculine nouns).
Could I also say Legg noen nøkler … instead?
Yes, but it changes the meaning:
- Legg nøklene … = put the (specific) keys (the ones we both know about)
- Legg noen nøkler … = put some keys (unspecified keys)
In instructions, definite form is common when the object is already understood in the situation.
What does nederst mean, and how is it different from nede?