A2 Norwegian GrammarPresent Perfect Tense
Master the Norwegian present perfect tense (perfektum) to describe completed actions with present relevance, experiences, and recent events. Learn how to form it using 'har' + past participle, and understand when to use perfektum versus preteritum.
1Formation with Regular Verbs
The Norwegian present perfect is formed with 'har' (have) + past participle. For regular verbs, the past participle typically ends in '-et' (Group 1) or '-t' (Group 2). The participle never changes form regardless of subject. This tense connects past actions to the present moment.
Regular Verb Participles
| Group | Infinitive | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (-et) | å snakke | snakket | har snakket |
| Group 1 (-et) | å jobbe | jobbet | har jobbet |
| Group 2 (-t) | å lese | lest | har lest |
| Group 2 (-t) | å kjøpe | kjøpt | har kjøpt |
Examples
Jeg har snakket med henne.
I have spoken with her.
har + snakket (Group 1)
Vi har jobbet hele dagen.
We have worked all day.
har + jobbet (Group 1)
Hun har lest boken.
She has read the book.
har + lest (Group 2)
De har kjøpt et nytt hus.
They have bought a new house.
har + kjøpt (Group 2)
2Irregular Past Participles
Many common Norwegian verbs have irregular past participles that must be memorized. These often involve vowel changes similar to English strong verbs. The most frequent irregular verbs include 'være' (vært), 'ha' (hatt), 'gå' (gått), 'se' (sett), and 'gi' (gitt).
Common Irregular Participles
| Infinitive | Meaning | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| å være | to be | vært | har vært |
| å ha | to have | hatt | har hatt |
| å gå | to go/walk | gått | har gått |
| å se | to see | sett | har sett |
Examples
Jeg har vært i Norge før.
I have been to Norway before.
vært = been (irregular)
Vi har hatt en fin dag.
We have had a nice day.
hatt = had (irregular)
Han har gått til skolen.
He has walked to school.
gått = gone/walked (irregular)
Har du sett filmen?
Have you seen the movie?
sett = seen (irregular)
3Usage: Experiences and Recent Events
Use the present perfect for life experiences (often with 'aldri' = never, 'noen gang' = ever), recently completed actions, and situations that started in the past but continue now. Time expressions like 'i dag' (today), 'denne uken' (this week), and 'nettopp' (just) often trigger this tense.
Common Time Expressions
| Norwegian | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| aldri | never | Jeg har aldri sett det. |
| noen gang | ever | Har du noen gang vært der? |
| nettopp | just | Hun har nettopp kommet. |
| allerede | already | Vi har allerede spist. |
Examples
Jeg har aldri spist sushi.
I have never eaten sushi.
aldri = never (experience)
Har du noen gang besøkt Paris?
Have you ever visited Paris?
noen gang = ever (experience)
Han har nettopp ringt.
He has just called.
nettopp = just (recent)
Vi har bodd her i fem år.
We have lived here for five years.
Action continuing to present
4Perfect vs Simple Past
Norwegian uses preteritum (simple past) more than English does for completed actions. Use perfektum when the past action has current relevance or the time is unspecified. Use preteritum when referring to a specific finished time (i går, forrige uke, i 2020). The choice affects meaning and naturalness.
When to Use Each Tense
| Tense | Use When | Time Markers |
|---|---|---|
| Perfektum | current relevance | i dag, denne uken, aldri |
| Perfektum | unspecified time | noen gang, ofte, mange ganger |
| Preteritum | specific past time | i går, forrige uke |
| Preteritum | completed period | i 2020, da jeg var ung |
Examples
Jeg har mistet nøklene mine.
I have lost my keys.
Current relevance (still lost)
Jeg mistet nøklene mine i går.
I lost my keys yesterday.
Specific time → preteritum
Hun har skrevet tre bøker.
She has written three books.
Achievement up to now
Hun skrev den boken i 2019.
She wrote that book in 2019.
Specific year → preteritum