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Questions & Answers about Vi skal spise resten i morgen.
What does the modal verb in skal spise do here—is this “the future tense”?
Norwegian doesn’t have a special future tense. Skal + infinitive signals a plan, arrangement, or intention about the future. You could also use the simple present with a time word, or other future-like constructions:
- Plan/intention: Vi skal spise …
- Neutral scheduled future: Vi spiser … (with a time word)
- Prediction: Vi kommer til å spise …
- Desire/volition: Vi vil spise …
Could I just use the present tense instead of skal?
Yes: Vi spiser resten i morgen is perfectly natural and very common. The time expression i morgen makes the future meaning clear. Using skal adds a nuance of plan/decision.
How is skal different from vil here?
- Skal = plan/arrangement or obligation, depending on context.
- Vil = wants/wishes.
So Vi vil spise resten i morgen means “We want to eat the rest tomorrow,” not a neutral future plan.
Where can I put the time phrase i morgen?
Common options:
- End position (neutral): Vi skal spise resten i morgen.
- Fronted (emphasis on time): I morgen skal vi spise resten.
Avoid placing it between the modal and the infinitive in speech; Vi skal i morgen spise resten is formal/written style.
How does negation work—where does ikke go?
Put ikke after the finite verb (skal) and the subject:
- Vi skal ikke spise resten i morgen. If you front the time, keep the verb second: I morgen skal vi ikke spise resten.
Do I need å before spise?
No. After modal verbs (skal, vil, kan, må, bør, tør), the infinitive does not take å:
- Correct: skal spise
- Not correct: skal å spise
What exactly does resten refer to—do I need to say “of it”?
Resten often implies “the rest (of it)” from context. If you need to be explicit, add av + noun/pronoun:
- Vi skal spise resten av pizzaen i morgen.
- Vi skal spise resten av den i morgen.
Why resten and not rester?
- Resten (singular definite) = “the rest (the remainder).”
- Rester (plural indefinite) = “leftovers” (pieces).
- Restene (plural definite) = “the leftovers.”
Choose based on whether you mean the remainder of one thing vs several leftover items.
What gender is rest, and why the ending -en?
Rest is common gender: en rest (a rest), resten (the rest). Common-gender nouns take -en in the definite singular. If you refer to something neuter, that noun itself takes -et: brød → brødet; e.g., resten av brødet.
Can/should I add opp as in spise opp?
Adding opp emphasizes finishing all of it (completion):
- Neutral: Vi skal spise resten i morgen.
- Completion: Vi skal spise opp resten i morgen.
Is i morgen one word?
In standard Bokmål it’s two words: i morgen. Colloquially you may hear it pronounced like “i morra,” but that spelling is informal. In Nynorsk it’s i morgon (also two words).
Pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?
- Vi ≈ “vee”
- skal: the sk is [sk] here (not “sh”), ≈ “skal”
- spise ≈ “SPEE-seh”
- resten ≈ “REST-en”
- i morgen often like “i MORRN” in many dialects; the “g/e/n” can soften or reduce.
Key point: sk before a back vowel (a, o, u, å) stays [sk]; before front vowels (e, i, y, æ, ø) it’s often “sh.”
Can I turn this into a suggestion question?
Yes. Skal vi spise resten i morgen? means “Shall we eat the rest tomorrow?” It’s a common way to propose a plan.
Is there any word-order rule I should remember here?
Yes, main-clause V2: the finite verb (skal) must be in the second position. If you front something (e.g., I morgen), the subject moves after the verb:
- I morgen skal vi spise resten.
How do I be more specific about the time (morning/evening)?
Common options:
- i morgen tidlig (tomorrow morning, early)
- i morgen formiddag (late morning)
- i morgen ettermiddag (afternoon)
- i morgen kveld (evening)
Could skal mean “must” here?
It can, depending on context and tone. Du skal gjøre det = “You must/are to do it.” In your sentence it most naturally reads as a plan, not an obligation, unless the context implies a rule or instruction.