This article will discuss how to use demonstratives in Norwegian. Demonstratives define objects and specify their distance in space or time from the speaker.
Near:
Denne is used with singular masculine and feminine nouns.
Dette is used with singular neuter nouns.
Disse is used with plural nouns.
Remote:
Den is used with singular masculine and feminine nouns.
Det is used with singular neuter nouns.
De is used with plural nouns.
The nouns following the demonstratives take the definite form. The correct form of the pronoun is determined by the distance between you and the object you are discussing, whether close or far away, whether it is plural or not and the gender of the noun.
Examples:
en mobiltelefon
a mobile phone
Near
Denne mobiltelefonen
This mobile phone
Disse mobiltelefonene
These mobile phones
Remote
Den mobiltelefonen
That mobile phone
De mobiltelefonene
Those mobile phones
et hus
a house
Near
Dette huset
This house
Disse husene
These houses.
Remote
Det huset
That house
De husene
Those houses
You can say, “Det huset er pent! That house is pretty!”. You can also say the same with the demonstratives but without the noun when the other person knows what you are talking about: “Det er pent! It is pretty!”
Far or near? It depends on who’s perspective.
If you were discussing something close to you, you would use “denne,” “dette,” or “disse,” but the same objects can be far away from the other person in your conversation. As a result, it can be appropriate for the other person to use “den”, “det,” or “de.”
The difference in the degree of closeness can also be seen in the adverbs that are often used along with the demonstratives in casual speech. “Her” (here) is usually used with the “near” forms: “denne,” “dette,” and “disse.” But with “den,” “det,” and “de,” we often use “der” (there):
Example:
A: Jeg liker den bilen der.
I like that car (the car is far away from me)
B: Denne her?
This? (the same car, but near the other person)
A: Ja, den der.
Yes, that there (remote)
B: Jeg foretrekker den der.
I prefer that (remote from the other person’s perspective, but still near mine)
Demonstratives and general things
Demonstratives are not required to refer to anything specific in a certain distance. It is also possible to use demontratives to point to general things.
For example:
Denne søknaden kan ikke godkjennes.
This application cannot be accepted.
I denne uka er han på ferie.
This week he is on vacation.
Denne saken må du ta opp med daglig leder.
This issue you have to discuss with the CEO.
Using “Det” and “Dette” to introduce something
The neuter form is also used to introduce something unrelated to gender or number in Norwegian.
For example:
Dette er sjefen min.
This is my boss.
Dette er Haakon!
This is Haakon!
Dette er barna mine!
Here are my children!
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