SamSkandinavisk nouns: Difference between revisions

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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; 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'')
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:
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'''parasiterne''' = the parasites; '''de sultne parasiter''' = the hungry parasites.  
'''parasiterne''' = the parasites; '''de sultne parasiter''' = the hungry parasites.  


'''Huset''' = the house; '''det store hus''' = the big house.
'''huset''' = the house; '''det store hus''' = the big house.


===Plurals===
===Plurals===
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