Possessive Position in Norwegian
In Norwegian, a possessive pronoun can appear either before or after the noun it modifies. Both structures are grammatically correct, but they differ in emphasis and tone.
1. Postposed possessive — huset ditt
This is the neutral and most common form.
It simply indicates ownership, without any special emphasis.
Det er huset ditt.
That’s your house.
Used in everyday speech and writing.
2. Preposed possessive — ditt hus
When the possessive comes before the noun, it adds focus or contrast.
It’s used when you want to stress the owner or make a distinction.
Det er ditt hus!
That’s YOUR house!
Often appears in corrections, emphasis, or formal language.
Summary
| Structure | Literal order | Meaning / tone | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| huset ditt | noun + possessive | your house | neutral, everyday |
| ditt hus | possessive + noun | YOUR house | emphatic, contrastive |
Rule of thumb
- The postposed form (huset ditt) is standard.
- The preposed form (ditt hus) is used for emphasis or contrast.