B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 50

The Nuances of 'Da' vs 'Når'

1 Reglas totales
1 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the Norwegian 'when' by distinguishing between unique past moments and repeating occurrences.

  • Identify the specific conditions for using 'da'.
  • Contrast 'da' with the repeating 'når'.
  • Apply the 'Den gang da' rule to narratives.
Den gang da, hver gang når.

Lo que aprenderás

Solving the eternal struggle of which 'when' to use. Learn the rule: 'Den gang da, hver gang når'.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: confidently use 'da' when narrating single past events.

Consejos y trucos (1)

💡

The 'Once' Test

Ask yourself: 'Did this happen only once?' If yes, use 'da'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Vocabulario clave (5)

da when (specific past instance) når when (recurring/future) hendelse event tidspunkt point in time fortid past

Real-World Preview

plane

Recalling a Trip

Review Summary

  • Da + [Subject] + [Verb (Past)]

Errores comunes

Childhood is a single, non-repeating period in your life.

Wrong: Når jeg var liten, bodde vi i Bergen.
Correcto: Da jeg var liten, bodde vi i Bergen.

This is a recurring habit, not a single past event.

Wrong: Da jeg spiser middag, ser jeg på TV.
Correcto: Når jeg spiser middag, ser jeg på TV.

The inclusion of 'hver dag' indicates repetition, which forbids 'da'.

Wrong: Da jeg går til jobb hver dag...
Correcto: Når jeg går til jobb hver dag...

Reglas en este capítulo (1)

1

Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

B2

Next Steps

You are making incredible progress! Keep observing how native speakers use these markers in their daily conversations.

Write a short diary entry about yesterday.

Continue to: Tense and Aspect Nuances

Práctica rápida (6)

Choose the correct conjunction.

___ jeg bodde i Bergen, regnet det hver dag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Da
Specific past period.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Da hver gang jeg så ham, smilte han.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hver gang jeg så ham, smilte han.
Recurring event.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Choose the correct conjunction.

___ jeg var barn, lekte vi mye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Da
Single past event.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Fill in the blank.

___ hun ringte, var jeg ute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Da
Single past event.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Fill in the blank.

___ jeg kom hjem, sov alle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Da
Single past event.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Da jeg skal reise, kjøpte jeg billett.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Når jeg skal reise...
Future event requires Når.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temporal 'Da' for Single Past Events

Score: /6

Preguntas frecuentes (2)

No, 'da' is strictly for the past.
If you are unsure, think about whether it happened once or many times.
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Nominalization
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Tense and Aspect Nuances
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