Definite and indefinite form

of the nouns
 Generic reference - Indefinite form
• We use the indefinite form of a noun to introduce new, unknown
information:
• That is, when we refer to something in generic terms.
• We then talk about generic reference.
• We can use the indefinite form of a noun in both singular and plural

• We got a new teacher

• I met a boy yesterday
• Tickets on sale here
Indefinite form in Norwegian:
Ubestemt form
• The indefinite form in Norwegian is called <ubestemt form>
• In the singular, it’s made by using the article which identifies the
gender in front of the noun
• En gutt = a boy
• Ei jente = a girl
• Et barn = a child
• In the plural is usually made by adding ”ER” as a suffix to the noun.
• En gutt = a boy
• To guttER = two boys

• Ei jente = a girl
• Tre jentER = three girls

• But there are exeptions. Like in one-syllable neuter nouns.

• Et barn = a child
• To barn* = two children (same form as in the singular indefinite)
Indefinite form with NO article
• In Norwegian, it’s also possible to make the indefinite form without
the article, just by using the plain form of the noun.
• This happens when we speak or write in very generic terms, or when
we refer to:
• Profession titles
• Nationality
• Religious titles
• English and Norwegian differ when it comes to profession and
religious titles in singular:
• He’s a student Han er student (NO article)
• She’s a teacher Hun er lærer (NO article)
• Carl is a Buddhist Karl er buddhist (NO article)

• But they behave similarly with nationalities as well as profession

and religious titles in plural:
• She’s American Hun er amerikaner
• They are students/teachers De er studenter/ lærere
• They are Buddhists De er buddhister
 There are NO indefinite articles in Plural!

• In this case we use the plural indefinite form of the nouns:

• Boys = Gutter
• Girls = Jenter
• Students = Studenter
• Children = Barn*
 Specific reference – Definite form
• We use the definite form of the noun when we write or speak about known information,
or when our interlocutors and readers can understand what we are referring to out of
the situation contest, common cultural references or because we are referring to a
specific concept which is a unicum, or a sole existing exemplar.
• That is, when we write or speack about something in specific terms.
• We then talk about specific reference.
• We can use the definite form both in singular and in plural:

• The boys (I mentioned previously) are Norwegian.

• Can you pass me the salt? (the salt is on the table, known contest)
• The weather is awful today (the weather is a common known concept)
• I’ve been at the library (the library everybody knows about)
Definite Form in Norwegian –
Bestemt form
• The definite form in Norwegian is called <bestemt form>
• In the singular it’s made by adding the article as a suffix at the end of the
noun:

• EN gutt guttEN = the boy

• ET barn barnET = the child

• For the feminine, the article changes in to –a in the definite form singular
• EI jente jentA = the girl
• The definite form plural is the same regardless of the gender of the noun and is made by
adding the suffix -ene at the end of the nouns.

• GuttEN = the boy GuttENE = the boys

• JentA = the girl JentENE = the girls

• EplET = the apple EplENE = the apples

• Some exeptions may occur as in

• BarnET = the child BarnA* = the children

• OBS: Note that this is not to be confused with the –a used as suffix for the definite form
in feminine singular!!
• #JentA = the girl (the one I know)
• We can organize all the substantive’s forms in the following table:

Singular Singular Plural Plural

indefinite definite indefinite definite

masculine en gutt gutten gutter guttene

feminine ei jente jenta jenter jentene

neuter et eple eplet epler eplene

et barn barnet barn* barna*