når
When / Whenever (Når)
Use når for things that happen regularly, things that will happen in the future, or things that used to happen repeatedly in the past. It is the 'whenever' of Danish.
How It Works
1. The 'Whenever' Rule
The easiest way to remember når is that it often translates to 'whenever'. If you can replace 'when' with 'whenever' in English and the sentence still makes sense, når is likely the correct choice. This applies to both the present and the past.
2. Future Events
Even if an event only happens once, if it hasn't happened yet (future), you must use når.
Example: Når jeg bliver 18, vil jeg købe en bil. (When I turn 18, I want to buy a car.)
3. Word Order (V2 Rule)
As a subordinating conjunction, når starts a subordinate clause. If the når-clause comes first in the sentence, the main clause must follow the V2 rule, meaning the verb comes immediately after the comma.
Example: Når det regner, bliver jeg inde. (When it rains, I stay inside.)
4. Comparison with 'Da'
While når is for habits and the future, da is strictly for single, completed events in the past. Think of da as 'that one time when'.
Examples (4)
- Når jeg kommer hjem, ringer jeg til dig.
When I get home, I will call you.
Word by Word: When I come home, ring I to you.
This is a future event. Notice the inversion 'ringer jeg' in the main clause because the 'når' clause started the sentence.
- Jeg bliver glad, når solen skinner.
I get happy when the sun shines.
Word by Word: I become happy, when sun-the shines.
This describes a general, repeated state in the present.
- Min mormor sang altid, når hun lavede mad.
My grandmother always sang when she cooked.
Word by Word: My grandmother sang always, when she made food.
Even though this is in the past, we use 'når' because it was a repeated habit (she did it every time she cooked).
- Når det ikke regner, går vi en tur.
When it doesn't rain, we go for a walk.
Word by Word: When it not rains, go we a walk.
In the subordinate clause, 'ikke' comes before the verb 'regner'. In the main clause, the verb 'går' comes before the subject 'vi'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'når' for a single event in the past.
Når jeg blev født, boede vi i Aarhus.Da jeg blev født, boede vi i Aarhus.Being born only happens once. For single, specific past events, you must use 'da' instead of 'når'.
Using 'når' to ask a question.
Når kommer du?Hvornår kommer du?'Når' is a conjunction used to link ideas. To ask 'when' as a question, you must use the question word 'hvornår'.
Forgetting V2 inversion after a 'når' clause.
Når jeg er træt, jeg sover.Når jeg er træt, sover jeg.When the 'når' clause starts the sentence, the main clause must start with the verb (sover) followed by the subject (jeg).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'når' correctly, you need to understand how to form basic sentences in the present tense and distinguish between asking a question about time ('hvornår') and describing a condition or repeated event ('når').
Related Patterns
- da (konjunktion)When (Single Past Event) (Da)
'Da' is the past-tense counterpart to 'når', used for single completed events.
Level 2 - hvisIf (Hvis)
'Hvis' (if) implies uncertainty, while 'når' (when) implies the event will definitely happen.
Level 2 - Word Order In Subordinate Clauses
'Når' introduces a subordinate clause, which requires a specific word order (Subject + Adverb + Verb).
Level 2 - Verb-Second Word Order
The V2 rule dictates that the verb must be the second element in the main clause when a 'når' clause comes first.
Level 2 - da / nårChoosing Da or Når
This guide specifically compares the choice between these two often-confused words.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice når in Bubblegum
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