Breakdown of Jeg tok bussen for to dager siden.
jeg
I
bussen
the bus
ta
to take
for to dager siden
two days ago
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Questions & Answers about Jeg tok bussen for to dager siden.
What’s the role of for in for to dager siden?
In English you just say two days ago without a preposition. Norwegian uses a fixed formula: for + time amount + siden. Together they form the adverbial “ago.” You need for here to mark the duration. On its own siden can mean “since,” but in this context it only works as part of that “ago” expression.
Why is siden at the end instead of at the beginning like in English?
Because for to dager siden is one unit meaning “two days ago.” Siden literally means “since,” but in this combo it follows the time span. Moving siden to the front would break up the fixed structure and confuse the meaning.
Can I say i forgårs instead of for to dager siden?
Yes. I forgårs literally means “the day before yesterday,” which is two days ago. It’s shorter and very common in speech. For to dager siden is more explicit if you want to stress the exact number of days.
Why is the verb tok used instead of har tatt?
Tok is the simple past (preterite) of å ta (to take). Norwegian often uses simple past for actions completed at a specific time (“I took the bus two days ago”). Har tatt (present perfect) focuses on the result or relevance now (“I have taken the bus,” e.g. I’m on it or I’ve done that trip).
How do I conjugate ta in the past?
Ta is a strong verb. Its main forms are:
• infinitive: å ta
• present: tar
• past (preterite): tok
• past participle: tatt
Why is bussen used instead of buss?
Buss is indefinite (“a bus”). Adding -en makes it definite (“the bus”). In Norwegian you normally say ta bussen when you mean “take the bus” in a general or specific sense. Just ta buss without the article sounds incomplete here.
What happens if I start with the time phrase: For to dager siden tok jeg bussen?
Norwegian follows the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. If you put For to dager siden first, you still place tok immediately after, then jeg. So For to dager siden tok jeg bussen is perfectly correct and simply emphasizes the time.
Can I omit for and say to dager siden?
No. Unlike English, you can’t drop the preposition. For to dager siden is the standard way to say “two days ago.” To dager siden by itself is ungrammatical.
Is tilbake interchangeable with siden in this phrase?
You’ll occasionally hear to dager tilbake (“two days back”), but it’s less common and slightly less formal. For to dager siden remains the most natural choice for “two days ago.”