Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Først spiser vi, deretter jobber vi videre.

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. When you put an adverb like Først in first position, the verb comes next and the subject follows: Først spiser vi. The same happens in the second clause: Deretter jobber vi (not “Deretter vi jobber”).

Is the comma necessary before “deretter”?

Yes. You have two main clauses not linked by a conjunction, so Norwegian requires a comma: Først spiser vi, deretter jobber vi videre. You could also use a period or semicolon: Først spiser vi. Deretter jobber vi videre. / Først spiser vi; deretter jobber vi videre.

Can I add “og” before “deretter”?

Yes: Først spiser vi, og deretter jobber vi videre. Because you now have two main clauses joined by a conjunction (og), a comma before og is standard.

Why isn’t it “Deretter vi jobber videre”?

Because of the V2 rule. With initial Deretter, the verb must be second: Deretter jobber vi videre. “Deretter vi jobber …” breaks that rule.

Could I say “Vi spiser først, deretter jobber vi videre” instead?

Yes. Vi spiser først is also correct. Slight nuance:

Først spiser vi … emphasizes the sequence by fronting “first.”
Vi spiser først … states that the eating happens first, then you continue with the next step.

What does “deretter” mean compared with “så” and “etterpå”?

deretter = “thereafter/then (next in a sequence).” Slightly formal; good for step-by-step descriptions.
så = “then/so (then).” Very common in speech and writing: Først spiser vi, så jobber vi videre.
etterpå = “afterwards.” Often used sentence-finally: Vi jobber videre etterpå. It can also start a clause: Etterpå jobber vi videre.
All three can work here, but deretter reads a bit more formal or procedural.

Is “Først så spiser vi …” okay?

In everyday speech you’ll hear Først så spiser vi …, but in careful writing it’s considered redundant. Prefer either Først spiser vi … or Vi spiser først … (and then continue with Så/Deretter jobber vi videre).

What’s the difference between “først” and “før”?

først is an adverb meaning “first/firstly”: Først spiser vi.
før is a subordinator/preposition meaning “before”: Vi jobber før vi spiser (we work before we eat) / før lunsj (before lunch). They aren’t interchangeable.

And “først” vs. “første”?

først = adverb (“first/firstly”): Først spiser vi.
første = ordinal adjective (“first”): den første dagen (the first day).

Where does negation go? How would I say “Then we don’t continue working”?

Place ikke after the subject (and after the finite verb in main clauses):
Deretter jobber vi ikke videre.
More examples: Først spiser vi ikke, I dag spiser vi ikke.

Is “videre” necessary? What does it add?

It’s optional. Deretter jobber vi = “Then we work (start/continue working).”
Deretter jobber vi videre emphasizes continuity: you resume or keep working after a pause. Without videre, it can simply mean “then we work” (possibly starting work).

Difference between “jobber” and “arbeider”?

Both mean “work” in Bokmål.

jobbe is very common and informal-neutral: Vi jobber videre.
arbeide is a bit more formal/literary: Vi arbeider videre.
Both are correct here.

Could I say “fortsetter vi å jobbe” instead of “jobber vi videre”?

Yes: Deretter fortsetter vi å jobbe.

fortsette å + infinitive explicitly expresses “continue to …”
jobbe videre is a compact, natural alternative meaning “keep working.” Both are idiomatic.

Why present tense for future plans? Shouldn’t it be “shall/will”?

Norwegian often uses the present for scheduled/near-future actions, especially with time adverbs: Først spiser vi, deretter jobber vi videre. If you want to stress intention or plan, you can use skal: Deretter skal vi jobbe videre.

Can I drop the second “vi”?

No. Norwegian isn’t a pro-drop language; you normally need the subject in each clause: …, deretter jobber vi videre. Omitting it (…, deretter jobber videre) is ungrammatical.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

først: the vowel ø like French “peur”; in many dialects “rs” sounds like “sh”: roughly “fersht.”
spiser: “SPEE-ser.”
deretter: stress on the first syllable: “DER-etter.”
jobber: “YOB-ber.”
videre: “VEE-de-re.”
Exact sounds vary by dialect, but these approximations will be understood.