Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Det er på tide at vi spiser, men foreløpig venter vi her. - It is time that we eat, but for now we wait here.

Norwegian often uses the present tense for near-future actions, especially with expressions like Det er på tide at …. It conveys “it’s time that we eat (now).” Don’t insert skal here: Det er på tide at vi skal spise is unnatural. Alternatives outside this construction include Vi skal spise snart or Vi kommer til å spise snart, but within the “på tide” frame you use a present finite verb: … at vi spiser.

Can I say Det er på tide å spise instead of Det er på tide at vi spiser?

Yes. Both are correct, with a slight nuance:

Det er på tide å spise: generic/impersonal; focuses on the activity.
Det er på tide at vi spiser: specifies who should do it. If you need to name the doer, use the at-clause. Adding for oss (as in … for oss å spise) is possible but less idiomatic; natives usually prefer one of the two forms above.

Do I need the at in Det er på tide at vi spiser?

In careful written Norwegian, yes—keep at. In everyday speech you’ll often hear Det er på tide vi spiser, which is colloquial but widely accepted. For formal writing, include at.

Why is it foreløpig venter vi her and not foreløpig vi venter her?

Main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must come second. Since foreløpig (an adverbial) is in first position, the verb venter must be second, then the subject vi: [Foreløpig] [venter] [vi] [her].

Where else can I put foreløpig?

All of these are fine, with small shifts in emphasis:

Vi venter foreløpig her.
Vi venter her foreløpig.
Foreløpig venter vi her. (fronted for contrast: “for now (at least), we’re waiting here”) All obey V2 when something other than the subject is in first position.

Could I use something other than foreløpig (e.g., “for now”)?

Yes, common options include:

for øyeblikket = at the moment (more literally “for the moment,” often very short-term)
inntil videre = until further notice (often a bit more official/longer-term)
enn så lenge = for now/for the time being (colloquial) Example: … men inntil videre venter vi her.

Why is it her and not hit?

Norwegian distinguishes location vs. motion:

her/der = location (here/there)
hit/dit = motion toward (to here/to there) Because venter describes a stationary situation, you need her, not hit.

Is the comma before men required?

Yes. When men joins two independent clauses, Norwegian places a comma before it: … spiser, men …. This is standard punctuation (you’d also use a comma before other coordinating conjunctions in similar situations).

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

på tide = it’s (about) time (often implies “overdue” or “we should do it now”): Det er på tide at vi spiser.
i tide = in time (not too late): Vi kom i tide til middagen.

Why not Det er på tide at vi spise?

After at you need a finite verb, so use spiser (present), not the infinitive spise. Compare:

Finite clause: … at vi spiser
Infinitive phrase: … å spise (used without a subject or with an implicit one)

Could I use avventer instead of venter?

Usually no, not as a direct swap. Avventer is more formal and typically takes an object: Vi avventer beskjed/ny informasjon (“We’re awaiting a message/new information”). Venter is the neutral, intransitive “wait”: Vi venter her.

Can I add nå for emphasis: Det er på tide at vi spiser nå?

Yes. Nå adds emphasis (“right now”). It’s not required, since på tide already implies immediacy, but nå is fine if you want extra push.

Is foreløpig the only correct spelling?

In Bokmål, foreløpig is the recommended spelling; foreløbig is an older/alternative Bokmål form you may still encounter. In Nynorsk it’s føreløpig. All mean the same.