Present and Future Time Clauses with "Når"
In Danish, når translates to "when" or "whenever". While you use da for a single completed event in the past, you use når for almost everything else: future events, present routines, and repeated actions.
When you start a sentence with a når clause, that entire clause takes up the first position. Because of the V2 (verb-second) rule, the main clause that follows must immediately start with its verb (inverting the subject and verb). Notice how the first example below uses vil han instead of han vil.
| When he gets the job, he will save up. | Når han får jobbet, vil han spare op. |
| When the savings are big enough, she will buy the house. | Når opsparingen er stor nok, køber hun huset. |
"Når" in the Middle of a Sentence
You can also place the når clause in the middle of your sentence. When the main clause comes first, it follows normal word order (subject before verb).
| We save up when we can. | Vi sparer op når vi kan. |
| I think about the pension when I work. | Jeg tænker på pensionen når jeg arbejder. |
Discussing Goals and Plans
Når is incredibly useful for discussing long-term plans, career goals, and finances, as well as everyday routines.
| When you work together, you can achieve everything. | Når man arbejder sammen, kan man opnå alt. |
| What do you want to be when you grow up? | Hvad vil du være når du bliver voksen? |
| When I am finished with the assignment, I will go to bed. | Når jeg er færdig med opgaven, går jeg i seng. |
