StudyNorwegian•Grammar / Your Norwegian journey
A2Verbs and tenses

Past tense

Describe an event at a definite past time.

Bokmål · nb-NO
GRAMMATIKK · BOKMÅL

Past tense

Use the past tense for finished events: snakke → snakket. Some verbs are irregular: gå → gikk, være → var.

The rule, step by step

  1. Use the past tense with a finished time such as i går or forrige uke.
  2. Regular verbs have several endings: -et, -te, -de and -dde. Do not apply one ending to every verb.
  3. Learn a sequence such as å kjøpe, kjøper, kjøpte. Keep verb-second order after an initial time phrase.

Sentence pattern

ringe → ringte · våkne → våknet

Compare forms and usage
BokmålMeaning or use
å snakke → snakkettalked
å kjøpe → kjøptebought
å prøve → prøvdetried
å bo → boddelived

Everyday examples

Example 1

I går ringte jeg legen.

Yesterday I called the doctor.

Example 2

Hun våknet klokken sju.

She woke up at seven.

Example 3

Vi bodde i Bergen i fjor.

We lived in Bergen last year.

A common error or a difference in meaning

Form to review

I går jeg ringte legen.

Correct form for the intended meaning

I går ringte jeg legen.

The error is word order: after I går, put ringte before jeg.

Put the rule into practice

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Personal review progress on this device. It does not complete a reading lesson or award XP.

VELG

Choose the form that fits the rule and meaning explained in this lesson.

FYLL INN

Complete the gap using the appropriate form of the given word.

Given word: lage

I går _____ hun mat.

SETT I REKKEFØLGE

Rebuild the example, starting with “I”: Yesterday I called the doctor.

…

Continue with the same subject

Present tense A1Plans with skal A2Irregular past tense A2Passive voice B2

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