Many new Norwegian language learners are unsure when to use the words “NÅR” and “DA” in Norwegian. Here we will explain how to use the words correctly.
General rule: “That time”: “DA” – “Every time”: “NÅR.”
In general, “DA” refers only to specific events or a continuous period in the past. In other cases, you will use “NÅR.”
When you talk about something in the past, you can use this rule:
“That time”: “DA” – “Every time”: “NÅR.”
So, when discussing something that happened once in the past, you will use “DA”:
Da vi kom frem, spiste vi middag sammen.
When we arrived, we ate dinner together.
Han ble sint da jeg fortalte at jeg ikke kunne komme i bursdagsfesten hans.
He got angry when I told him I could not attend his birthday party.
Da pappa ringte, var jeg opptatt i et møte.
When dad called, I was busy in a meeting.
It is critical to focus on the verb in the subordinate clause that begins with “DA” or “NÅR.”
Consider the following example:
Da han bodde i Norge, lagde han middag hjemme hver dag.
When he lived in Norway, he made dinner at home every day.
In the preceding example, you point to one continuous period in the subordinate clause: “Da han bodde i Norge.” So you will use “DA” here, and the subordinate clause is not influenced by the fact that “han lagde middag hver dag” “he made dinner every day.
Repeating action in the past: “Når”
If there is a repetition in the subordinate clause, and this clause is the governing clause, you should use “NÅR.” So it is not correct to say that “DA” points to the past and “NÅR” points to the future.
For example:
Vi spiste alltid på restaurant når jeg besøkte henne i Oslo.
We always ate at a restaurant when I visited her in Oslo.
Når hun kom på besøk, pleide hun å bo på hotell i Oslo sentrum.
When she came visiting me, she usually lived in a hotel downtown Oslo.
Use “Når” in Present Tense (Habit) and in Future Tense
When it is the present tense, and you are talking about a habit, you should use “Når.”
Når han kommer til Oslo, pleier vi å spise på restaurant.
When he comes to Oslo, we usually eat at a restaurant.
Når regnet høljer ned på søndager, liker vi å se en god film hjemme.
When the rain is pouring down on Sundays, we like to watch a good movie at home.
Use “NÅR” in the future tense:
Når det slutter å regne, så kan vi ta en tur på kino sammen.
When it stops raining, we can go to the movies together.
