Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Når regningen er betalt, planlegger vi en ny reise til skogen og fjellet. - When the bill is paid, we plan a new trip to the forest and the mountain.

In Norwegian når is a conjunction meaning when, but here it functions like once or as soon as. You can also use så snart for a stronger sense of immediacy.

Why is regningen in the definite form instead of an indefinite form?

Regningen (with -en) is the definite form, equivalent to the bill. We use it because we’re referring to a specific bill that both speaker and listener know about. Using en regning would mean a bill in general.

How does the passive construction er betalt work, and what does it mean?

Er is the present tense of å være (to be) and betalt is the past participle of å betale (to pay). Together they form a resultative passive, meaning is paid or has been paid. For a full perfect passive you could also say har blitt betalt.

Why are planlegger and vi inverted in the main clause?

Norwegian main clauses follow a V2 rule (verb second). Since the subordinate clause Når regningen er betalt occupies the first position, the finite verb planlegger must come next, followed by the subject vi.

Why is the verb planlegger in the present tense even though it refers to a future plan?

In Norwegian, the present tense frequently covers future actions, much like English we’re meeting tomorrow. Context indicates that the trip happens later.

Why do we say en ny reise and not et nytt reise?

Reise is a common-gender noun (an en-ord). Its indefinite article is en, and the adjective ny stays in its common-gender form (no -t ending) in singular indefinite use.

What does til skogen og fjellet mean, and why are skogen and fjellet in the definite form?

Til means to. Skogen (the forest) and fjellet (the mountain) are in their definite singular form (with -en). This shows that you mean a specific forest and mountain.

Could you say til skog og fjell instead of til skogen og fjellet, and what changes?

Yes. Til skog og fjell (indefinite singular) refers to forests and mountains in general (i.e. the outdoors). Using the definite (til skogen og fjellet) points to one particular forest and one particular mountain.

Is the comma after betalt required, and why?

Yes. When a subordinate clause (Når regningen er betalt) comes before the main clause, you separate them with a comma. This makes the sentence structure clearer.

Can når ever mean if in Norwegian?

In conditional contexts English speakers might confuse når with if, but Norwegian normally uses hvis for if. In time clauses like this one når always means when or once.