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SamSkandinavisk nouns: Difference between revisions
→Definite article
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The suffix that is used to designate definiteness is also called the ''enclitic definite article''. Although it is a suffix, it functions in a similar way to the definite article in other Western European languages such as English, German or French. | The suffix that is used to designate definiteness is also called the ''enclitic definite article''. Although it is a suffix, it functions in a similar way to the definite article in other Western European languages such as English, German or French. | ||
The enclitic definite article is only used when the noun-phrase is not modified by any other adjectives, determiners or articles. When these are part of the noun-phrase, the enclitic definite article is not used, instead independent, pre-noun definite articles are used; | The enclitic definite article is only used when the noun-phrase is not modified by any other adjectives, determiners or articles. When these are part of the noun-phrase, the enclitic definite article is not used, instead independent, pre-noun definite articles are used; det for neuter nouns; '''den''' for common gender nouns; and '''de''' for plural nouns. (Incidentally these definite articles are also the 3rd person pronouns for ''it'', ''he/she''' and ''they'') | ||
For example '''en ankel''' (common gender = an ankle), '''ett hus''' (neuter gender = a house) and '''parasiter''' (parasites) in definite form become '''anklen''' (the ankle), '''huset''' (the house) and '''parasiterne''' (the parasites). However this changes to a pre-noun definite article when it is preceded by an adjective. For example: | For example '''en ankel''' (common gender = an ankle), '''ett hus''' (neuter gender = a house) and '''parasiter''' (parasites) in definite form become '''anklen''' (the ankle), '''huset''' (the house) and '''parasiterne''' (the parasites). However this changes to a pre-noun definite article when it is preceded by an adjective. For example: | ||