Learning Norwegian can be a rewarding experience, but like any language, it comes with its set of challenges. One of the areas where learners often stumble is understanding and correctly using verbs that look and sound similar but have different meanings and usages. Today, we’ll explore the Norwegian verbs **vise** and **vist**, which correspond to the English “show” and “shown.” By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding of these verbs and how to use them correctly.

Understanding Vise

The verb **vise** in Norwegian translates to “show” in English. It’s used in a variety of contexts, from showing someone something physically to demonstrating a skill or explaining a concept.

Vise – to show
Kan du **vise** meg hvordan man lager denne retten?

Here, **vise** is used to ask someone to demonstrate how to make a specific dish.

Viser – shows
Hun **viser** alltid stor tålmodighet med barna.

In this sentence, **viser** is the present tense of **vise**, indicating that she always shows great patience with the children.

Understanding Vist

The word **vist** is the past participle form of **vise** and translates to “shown” in English. It is used in perfect tenses.

Har vist – have shown
Jeg **har vist** henne bildene fra ferien.

Here, **har vist** is used to indicate that the action of showing the pictures from the vacation has been completed.

Ble vist – was shown
Han **ble vist** rundt i byen av en lokal guide.

In this sentence, **ble vist** is used to indicate that he was shown around the city by a local guide.

Differences in Usage

Although **vise** and **vist** are forms of the same verb, their usage differs significantly.

Vise is the infinitive form and is used when you are referring to the action of showing something in the present or future tense.

Jeg vil vise – I want to show
Jeg vil **vise** deg noe fantastisk.

Vist is the past participle and is used in perfect tenses or passive constructions.

Jeg har vist – I have shown
Jeg har **vist** dem hvor de kan finne informasjonen.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One common mistake is using **vise** when **vist** should be used and vice versa. Remember, if you’re talking about an action that has been completed in the past, you should use **vist**.

Incorrect: Jeg vil vist deg noe. (I want to shown you something.)
Correct: Jeg vil vise deg noe. (I want to show you something.)

Another common mistake is using the wrong tense. Ensure that you match the tense of **vise** or **vist** with the context of your sentence.

Incorrect: Jeg viser dem bildene i går. (I shows them the pictures yesterday.)
Correct: Jeg viste dem bildene i går. (I showed them the pictures yesterday.)

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, let’s go through some practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of **vise** or **vist**.

1. Kan du ____ meg hvor butikken er?
Kan du vise meg hvor butikken er?

2. Hun ____ oss et bilde av familien sin.
Hun viste oss et bilde av familien sin.

3. Jeg har ____ ham hvordan man spiller piano.
Jeg har vist ham hvordan man spiller piano.

4. De ____ alltid stor respekt for eldre.
De viser alltid stor respekt for eldre.

5. Han ble ____ til å delta i konkurransen.
Han ble vist til å delta i konkurransen.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between **vise** and **vist** is crucial for mastering Norwegian. Remember, **vise** is used for present and future actions, while **vist** is for past actions, especially in perfect tenses. By practicing and paying attention to the context, you’ll become more comfortable using these verbs correctly. Keep practicing, and you’ll see improvement in no time!