Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg vil vise deg bildene senere.

vil is the present‐tense form of å ville, a modal verb that expresses desire or intention. In Norwegian it can translate as either “want to” or “will,” depending on context. Here, Jeg vil vise deg bildene senere most naturally means “I want to show you the pictures later.”

Why isn’t there an å before vise?

In Norwegian, when you use a modal verb like vil, you follow it directly with the bare infinitive (verb stem + -e) and drop å. So it’s vil vise, not vil å vise.

How do I know that deg is the indirect object and bildene the direct object?

Norwegian word order with an indirect object pronoun (IO) and direct object (DO) is typically S – V – IO – DO. Here:
• Subject (S): Jeg
• Verb (V): vil vise
• Indirect object (IO): deg (“you”)
• Direct object (DO): bildene (“the pictures”)
You could also rephrase the IO with a preposition: vise bildene til deg, but with pronouns, IO normally comes first.

Why is it bildene instead of bilder?

bildene is the definite plural form of bilde. Adding -ene makes it “the pictures.” You use the definite form when you and your listener know which pictures you’re talking about.

Could I move senere to the front of the sentence?

Yes. Norwegian is a V2 (verb‐second) language, so if you start with an adverbial like senere, the finite verb must still be second:
Senere vil jeg vise deg bildene.

What’s the difference between senere and etterpå?

Both mean “later,” but:

senere is more general/flexible (“at some later time”).
etterpå often implies “after something else that just happened.”
In many contexts they’re interchangeable, but etterpå can feel a bit more “immediately after.”

Could I use skal instead of vil to talk about the future?

Yes, but they have different nuances:

skal = a planned or scheduled future action (“I shall/ will (definitely) show you …”).
vil = expresses your desire or willingness (“I want to show you …”).
If you simply state what will happen, skal is more neutral; if you emphasize your wish, use vil.