While “hvis,” “dersom,” “viss” and “om” can be translated as “if,” there are situations where “om” is not interchangeable with the three other words. This article will teach you how to use the words “hvis,” “dersom,” “viss” and “om” properly.
Sentences where you can use both “hvis,” “dersom,” “viss” and “om”
In conditional sentences, “hvis,” “dersom,” “viss” and “om” mean “if” and can be used interchangeably. The subjunctives “hvis,” “dersom” and “viss” are only used in conditional clauses.
Conditional sentences are sentences where a condition comes after “hvis,” “dersom,” “viss” or “om” and what comes after the condition depends on the condition.
1 Hvis/Dersom/Viss/Om du liker å spise kinesisk mat, gjør vi det.
If you like to eat Chinese, then we do that.
2 Hvis/Dersom/Viss/Om det regner i morgen, drar vi på kino.
We can go to the cinema if it is raining tomorrow.
The conditional part with “hvis”/”dersom”/”viss/”om” is followed by another part where the verb comes first:
Hvis/Dersom/Viss/Om du ikke blir med, drar vi ikke.
If you do not join, we will not go.
Some feel that “dersom” is more formal than “hvis,” “viss” and “om”. However, they are all used in formal and informal daily spoken Norwegian.
Sentences where only “om” can be used
In indirect interrogative sentences with no condition, you can only use “om” and not “hvis,” “dersom,” or “viss”. If you can substitute “if” with “whether” in English, then you should use “om” and not “hvis,” “dersom” or “viss”.
For example:
1. Hun spurte om han ville spise kinesisk mat.
She asked if he wanted to eat Chinese food.
2. Jeg vet ikke om han kommer.
I do not know if he will come.
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