B1 Norwegian GrammarPast Perfect Tense
Master the Norwegian past perfect (pluskvamperfektum) formed with 'hadde' + past participle. Use this tense to describe actions completed before another past action, essential for storytelling and explaining sequences of past events.
1Formation with Regular Verbs
The past perfect is formed with 'hadde' (had) + past participle. The past participle is the same form used in present perfect. Regular verbs form participles with '-et' (Group 1) or '-t' (Group 2). 'Hadde' never changes form regardless of subject.
Past Perfect Formation
| Group | Infinitive | Participle | Past Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | å snakke | snakket | hadde snakket |
| Group 1 | å jobbe | jobbet | hadde jobbet |
| Group 2 | å lese | lest | hadde lest |
| Group 2 | å kjøpe | kjøpt | hadde kjøpt |
Examples
Jeg hadde allerede spist da hun kom.
I had already eaten when she arrived.
hadde spist = had eaten
De hadde jobbet hele dagen.
They had worked all day.
hadde jobbet = had worked
Han hadde lest boken før filmen kom.
He had read the book before the movie came out.
hadde lest = had read
Vi hadde kjøpt billetter på forhånd.
We had bought tickets in advance.
hadde kjøpt = had bought
2Irregular Past Participles
Many common verbs have irregular past participles. These are the same irregular forms used in present perfect. Key verbs include: være→vært, ha→hatt, gå→gått, se→sett, gi→gitt, ta→tatt, skrive→skrevet, drikke→drukket.
Common Irregular Forms
| Infinitive | Meaning | Participle | Past Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| å være | to be | vært | hadde vært |
| å gå | to go | gått | hadde gått |
| å se | to see | sett | hadde sett |
| å skrive | to write | skrevet | hadde skrevet |
| å drikke | to drink | drukket | hadde drukket |
| å finne | to find | funnet | hadde funnet |
Examples
Hun hadde vært der mange ganger før.
She had been there many times before.
hadde vært = had been
De hadde gått hjem da jeg ringte.
They had gone home when I called.
hadde gått = had gone
Jeg hadde aldri sett noe slikt.
I had never seen anything like it.
hadde sett = had seen
Han hadde skrevet brevet før hun ba om det.
He had written the letter before she asked for it.
hadde skrevet = had written
3Usage: Sequence of Past Events
Use past perfect to show that one action happened BEFORE another past action. The later action uses simple past (preteritum). Common connectors include: før (before), da (when), etter at (after), allerede (already), nettopp (just), and aldri (never).
Time Markers with Past Perfect
| Norwegian | English | Position |
|---|---|---|
| før | before | Before clause |
| da | when | Main clause |
| etter at | after | Subordinate clause |
| allerede | already | With hadde |
| nettopp | just | With hadde |
Examples
Toget hadde gått da vi kom til stasjonen.
The train had left when we arrived at the station.
Earlier action in past perfect
Etter at han hadde spist, gikk han ut.
After he had eaten, he went out.
etter at + past perfect
Jeg hadde nettopp sovnet da telefonen ringte.
I had just fallen asleep when the phone rang.
nettopp = just (very recent)
Vi visste at hun hadde flyttet.
We knew that she had moved.
Past perfect in subordinate clause
4Past Perfect in Conditional Sentences
Past perfect is used in 'if' clauses to describe unreal past situations (third conditional). The pattern is: 'Hvis + subject + hadde + participle, ville + subject + ha + participle'. This expresses what would have happened if circumstances had been different.
Conditional Pattern
| Clause | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If-clause | Hvis + hadde + participle | Hvis jeg hadde visst... |
| Result clause | ville + ha + participle | ...ville jeg ha kommet |
| Alternative | kunne/skulle ha | ...kunne jeg ha hjulpet |
Examples
Hvis jeg hadde visst, ville jeg ha hjulpet.
If I had known, I would have helped.
Third conditional structure
Hvis vi hadde sett ham, ville vi ha sagt hei.
If we had seen him, we would have said hello.
Unreal past condition
De kunne ha vunnet hvis de hadde trent mer.
They could have won if they had trained more.
kunne ha = could have
Jeg skulle ha ringt hvis jeg hadde hatt tid.
I should have called if I had had time.
skulle ha = should have