Questions & Answers about Mens vi venter, spiser vi kake i kafeen.
What does Mens mean, and how does it differ from Når?
- Mens translates as “while” and introduces an action happening simultaneously with another.
- Når means “when” and is used for points in time (single or repeated events).
Example: Mens vi spiser, snakker vi = “While we eat, we talk.”
Example: Når vi spiser, slår klokka 12 = “When we eat, it’s already noon.”
Why are both verbs in the present tense (venter, spiser)? Could we use past or future?
- Present tense in Norwegian (as in English) describes actions happening now or habitually.
- To talk about the past, you’d say: Mens vi ventet, spiste vi kake i kafeen.
- For the future: Mens vi venter, skal vi spise kake i kafeen.
In the main clause, why does spiser appear before vi? Isn’t Norwegian word order SVO?
Norwegian follows the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb must be the second constituent of a main clause.
1) Mens vi venter (entire subordinate clause) counts as the first.
2) Then comes the verb (spiser) in second position.
3) Finally the subject (vi).
Alternative (avoiding inversion):
Vi spiser kake i kafeen mens vi venter, where the subordinate clause is moved to the end.