Common Norwegian Prepositions in Time Expressions
1. “På” – For Days and Specific Time Frames
The preposition “på” is widely used in Norwegian when referring to days of the week and certain time expressions. It is similar to the English “on” when talking about specific days, but it also covers additional uses.
- På mandag (on Monday)
- På fredag kveld (on Friday evening)
- På julaften (on Christmas Eve)
“På” is also used when talking about seasons and holidays:
- På vinteren (in the winter)
- På påsken (at Easter)
2. “I” – For Months, Years, and Periods
The preposition “i” is used when referring to months, years, centuries, and longer periods of time. It is often equivalent to the English “in”.
- I januar (in January)
- I 2024 (in 2024)
- I helgen (during the weekend)
- I fem år (for five years)
Note that “i” is also used when talking about how long something takes or the duration of an event.
- Jeg kommer i morgen (I am coming tomorrow)
- Vi skal være der i to timer (We will be there for two hours)
3. “Om” – For Future Time
If you want to say something will happen after a certain amount of time in the future, use “om”. This is similar to the English “in” as in “in two weeks”.
- Om ti minutter (in ten minutes)
- Om et år (in a year)
- Om noen dager (in a few days)
“Om” is also used for recurring events, such as “once a week”:
- En gang om dagen (once a day)
- To ganger om uken (twice a week)
4. “For” – Ago
To express how long ago something happened, use “for” followed by the time period.
- For to dager siden (two days ago)
- For et år siden (a year ago)
This is similar to the English construction “ago”, but in Norwegian you need to add “siden” after the time period.
Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
- Remember that “på” is for days and certain holidays, while “i” is for months and longer periods.
- Use “om” for talking about something that will happen in the future, after a certain amount of time.
- Do not confuse “i” and “om” — “i” is for duration, “om” is for time until something happens.
- When expressing “ago”, always use “for … siden”.
Practice Makes Perfect
To truly master Norwegian time expressions, practice is key. Try writing sentences about your weekly schedule, important dates, or future plans using the correct prepositions. If you’re using language learning platforms like Talkpal, look for exercises or conversations that focus on time expressions to reinforce your understanding.
Conclusion
Using Norwegian prepositions correctly in time expressions can seem daunting at first, but with practice and attention to these key rules, you will communicate more naturally and accurately. Remember to use “på” for days, “i” for months and durations, “om” for future time frames, and “for … siden” for the past. By incorporating these tips into your daily practice, you’ll find your Norwegian fluency improving steadily. Happy learning from the Talkpal team!
