Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg må male rommet i helgen. - I must paint the room this weekend.

In Norwegian, when you use a modal verb like må (must/have to), the following verb stays in the bare infinitive form—no å. So you say jeg må male, not jeg må å male.

What does må mean here?

Må is a modal verb meaning must or have to, indicating obligation. So jeg må male rommet = I have to paint the room.

Why is it rommet instead of et rom?

Norwegian uses definite forms by adding a suffix.

rom = a room (indefinite)
rommet = the room (definite)

Since you’re talking about a specific room (the one you both know), you use the definite form rommet.

What’s the difference between i helgen and på helgen?

The common idiom for this weekend is i helgen. You might also hear i helga in spoken or dialectal Norwegian. På helgen is less common when referring to “this upcoming weekend.”

Why is i helgen at the end of the sentence?

Norwegian follows the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb (må) must occupy the second position. Adverbials like i helgen typically come after the object or verb phrase. You could front the adverbial—I helgen må jeg male rommet—but må still stays in position two.

Why is i helgen in the definite form (“helgen”) and not just “helg”?

When referring to a specific upcoming time period, Norwegian uses the definite form:

helg = “a weekend” in general
helgen = “this weekend” (the one we’re talking about)

Can you use the present tense to talk about the future in Norwegian?

Yes. Norwegian often uses the present tense for future plans if there’s a time expression (like i helgen). You don’t need a separate future form (no “will” equivalent needed).

What’s the difference between må and skal in Norwegian?

Må = obligation (must/have to).
Skal = future intention or plan (going to / shall).

So jeg må male rommet implies you’re obliged to paint, while jeg skal male rommet simply states your plan or intention to paint.