My Most Common Norwegian Grammar Mistake - Intermediate/Advanced Norwegian

This is my most common grammatical mistake as a Norwegian teacher. The difference between when to use "da" and when to use "når" is something I’ve never paid much attention to. However, there are some rules for how these words should be used when talking about events in the past and the future. Let me explain how to use them in simple Norwegian. Also, check out the bio of this video for more details on the subject

Norsk

Dette er min vanligste grammatiske feil som norsklærer. Forskjellen på når man skal bruke "Da" og når man skal bruke "Når", er noe jeg aldri har viet spesielt mye oppmerksomhet til. Men, det finnes noen regler for hvordan begrepene skal brukes når man snakker om hendelser i fortid og framtid. La meg fortelle dere litt om hvordan de brukes på enkel norsk. Sjekk også ut bioen til denne videoen for flere detaljer om emnet

Use "da" (one-time event in the past)

✅ Jeg husker godt DA jeg fikk min første sykkel.
(I remember well WHEN I got my first bike.)

✅ Det regnet mye DA vi var på ferie i Spania.
(It rained a lot WHEN we were on vacation in Spain.)

✅ Han ble overrasket DA han hørte nyheten.
(He was surprised WHEN he heard the news.)

🚫 Jeg husker godt NÅR jeg fikk min første sykkel. (Wrong❌ – because it happened only once)

Use "når" (repeated actions, future, or conditions)

✅ Jeg pleide å lese eventyr NÅR jeg skulle legge meg. (Repeated event)
(I used to read fairy tales WHEN I was going to bed.)

✅ Vi drikker alltid kakao NÅR det snør ute. (Repetition)
(We always drink hot chocolate when it snows outside.)

✅ Jeg skal si ifra NÅR jeg er ferdig. (Future)
(I will let you know WHEN I am finished.)

🚫 Jeg pleide å lese eventyr da jeg skulle legge meg. (Wrong❌ – because it happened many times)

"Da" = one-time event in the past, "Når" = repeated actions or future.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:59 I Always Use "Når"
2:11 Bad Habit
3:21 "Da" For The Past
4:12 "Når" - More Complicated
6:15 "Når" or "Hver gang"
7:13 Summary
7:51 No One Will Notice
9:20 Question

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Do you love learning Norwegian through fun and engaging videos? At To Understand Norwegian, we specialize in creating content that uses comprehensible input to make language learning not only effective but also enjoyable. Our videos are designed to immerse you in the Norwegian language, helping you grasp its grammar, vocabulary, nuances and flow naturally.