Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Bakepapiret ligger allerede på stekebrettet, så kakene er lettere å ta ut. - The baking paper is already on the baking tray, so the cakes are easier to take out.

Breakdown of Bakepapiret ligger allerede på stekebrettet, så kakene er lettere å ta ut.

Why do bakepapiret, stekebrettet, and kakene all have endings attached to them?

Those endings mark the definite form in Norwegian.

Unlike English, Norwegian often adds the equivalent of the to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.

Why is it ligger and not er?

Norwegian often uses position verbs where English would simply use to be.

Here, ligger means lies / is lying and is natural because baking paper is thought of as lying flat on the tray.

So:

Using er would be more general, but less natural in this kind of physical description. Norwegian frequently prefers: