For many who have just started learning Norwegian, the use of “derfor” and “fordi” can be confusing. In this article, we will explain the difference between these two words.
1 Derfor
“Derfor” is an adverb we use to describe the outcome of something. As an adverb, “derfor” can start the main clause. “Derfor” is followed by a verb.
reason + derfor + outcome
For example:
Hun ønsker å finne seg en bedre jobb i Norge. Derfor har hun startet å gå på norskkurs.
She wants to find a better job in Norway. Therefore, she has started to go to a Norwegian course.
Han synest det er for kaldt i Nord-Norge om vinteren. Derfor har han bestemt seg for å flytte til Oslo.
He thinks it is too cold in Northern Norway in the winter. Therefore, he has decided to move to Oslo.
Han ønsker å slanke seg. Derfor spiser han mer grønnsaker nå enn det han gjorde før.
He wishes to lose weight. Therefore, he is eating more vegetables now than he did before.
2 Fordi
“Fordi” tells us the reason for something. “Fordi” is a subordinating conjunction that starts a subordinate clause. After “fordi” there is a subject.
Fordi Structure 1: outcome + fordi + reason
For example:
Hun har startet å gå på norskkurs, fordi hun ønsker å finne seg en bedre jobb i Norge.
She has started to go to a Norwegian course because she wants to find a better job in Norway.
Han har bestemt seg for å flytte til Oslo, fordi han synest det er for kaldt i Nord-Norge om vinteren.
He has decided to move to Oslo, because he thinks it is too cold in Northern Norway in the winter.
Han spiser mer grønnsaker nå enn det han gjorde før, fordi han ønsker å slanke seg.
He is eating more vegetables now than before, because he wishes to lose weight.
Fordi Structure 2: Fordi + reason + outcome
For example:
Fordi hun ønsker å finne seg en bedre jobb i Norge, har hun startet å gå på norskkurs.
Because she wants to find a better job in Norway, she has started to go to a Norwegian course.
Fordi han synest det er for kaldt i Nord-Norge om vinteren, har han bestemt seg for å flytte til Oslo.
Because he thinks it is too cold in Northern Norway in the winter, he has decided to move to Oslo.
Fordi han ønsker å slanke seg, spiser han mer grønnsaker nå enn det han gjorde før.
Because he wishes to lose weight, he is eating more vegetables now than before.
