When is Flertall av substantiv used?

Merk: Mange intetkjønnsord har nullplural (barn→barn, hus→hus). Bestemt flertall av disse er -a: barna, husene.

What are common mistakes with Flertall av substantiv?

🇬🇧 English speakers: Norwegian neuter nouns often have the same form in singular and plural (et barn / barn). Don't add -er to et-words. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: No case endings in plural, just one suffix. Focus on -er vs zero for et-nouns. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: No case distinctions in plural. The -ene definite plural is a reliable pattern once you know the indefinite.

Flertall av substantiv | Norwegian Grammar A1

Flertall av substantiv

A1 — Substantiv

Norwegian plural: indefinite adds -er (most nouns) or -r (nouns ending in -e), et-nouns unchanged. Definite plural: -ene (most), -a (et-nouns). E.g. stol→stoler→stolene; barn→barn→barna.

Jeg kan bøye substantiv i ubestemt og bestemt flertall.

Norwegian plural: indefinite adds -er (most nouns) or -r (nouns ending in -e), et-nouns unchanged. Definite plural: -ene (most), -a (et-nouns). E.g. stol→stoler→stolene; barn→barn→barna.

Examples

Jeg ser tre stoler. — I see three chairs.
Mange barn leker ute. — Many children are playing outside.
Barna sover allerede. — The children are already sleeping.

SubstantivA1

Plural Nouns

Norwegian plural: indefinite plural adds -er (most nouns) or -r (nouns ending in -e); et-nouns are unchanged. Definite plural: -ene (most), -a (et-nouns).

Learning Goal

I can form indefinite and definite plurals of Norwegian nouns.

Exam Skills:LeseforståelseLytteforståelseMuntligSkriftlig

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Jeg ser tre stoler.

I see three chairs.

Mange barn leker ute.

Many children are playing outside.

Barna sover allerede.

The children are already sleeping.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Plural Nouns

Type	Indef. Sing.	Indef. Plural	Def. Plural
Masculine	en stol	stoler	stolene
Feminine	ei jente	jenter	jentene
Neuter	et barn	barn	barna
Ending -e	en gate	gater	gatene

Note: Many neuter nouns have zero plural (barn→barn). Definite plural of neuters: -a (barna).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Et-nouns (barn, hus) have zero indefinite plural — don't add -er. Definite plural of et-nouns is -a, not -ene.

Common Error Patterns

Added -er to et-noun or used -ene for et-noun definite plural

Used indefinite plural where definite is required

Jeg ser tre stoler.

I see three chairs.

en stol → stoler (indefinite plural with -er).

Mange barn leker ute.

Many children are playing outside.

et barn → barn (zero plural for neuter nouns).

Barna sover allerede.

The children are already sleeping.

barn → barna (definite plural of neuter nouns: -a).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Frequently asked questions

When is Flertall av substantiv used?: Merk: Mange intetkjønnsord har nullplural (barn→barn, hus→hus). Bestemt flertall av disse er -a: barna, husene.
What are common mistakes with Flertall av substantiv?: 🇬🇧 English speakers: Norwegian neuter nouns often have the same form in singular and plural (et barn / barn). Don't add -er to et-words. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: No case endings in plural, just one suffix. Focus on -er vs zero for et-nouns. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: No case distinctions in plural. The -ene definite plural is a reliable pattern once you know the indefinite.