ELONIO
Log inSign up

Vi må se fremover nå.

Vi må se fremover nå.
We must look forward now.
FromLesson 36inHardcore Norwegian

Breakdown of Vi må se fremover nå.

vi
we
nå
now
måtte
must
se fremover
to look forward

Questions & Answers about Vi må se fremover nå.

What does må mean here? Is it “must” or “have to”?

må expresses necessity/obligation—often between English “must” and “have to.” It’s fairly strong. Softer or different options:

  • bør = should
  • skal = supposed to/going to
  • trenger (å) / behøver (å) = need (to) Examples: Vi bør se fremover. (softer) • Vi skal se fremover. (plan/expectation)
Why is there no å before se?
Modal verbs take a bare infinitive. With må, you say må se, not må å se. Same with kan se, vil se, skal se, bør se.
Can I write framover instead of fremover?
Yes. In Bokmål both are correct and mean the same. frem- is a more traditional standard; fram- aligns more with many dialects/Nynorsk. Pick one style and be consistent in a text.
What’s the difference between fremover and forover?
  • fremover/framover: often about time (“going forward/from now on”) and can also mean “ahead” in space. Example: Vi må se fremover (think about the future).
  • forover: mainly physical direction forward. Example: Han lente seg forover (He leaned forward).
Can I say Nå må vi se fremover instead? Does the meaning change?
Yes. It’s equally natural. Starting with Nå emphasizes the time frame and triggers inversion (finite verb second): Nå må vi … End position nå (Vi må … nå) puts a bit more weight on the action and can sound slightly more urgent.
What about Vi må nå se fremover—is that okay?
Grammatically fine, but it sounds formal/literary. In everyday speech, put nå first or last.
Is se fremover literal or idiomatic?
Both. Literally “look ahead” (e.g., when driving), and idiomatically “focus on the future/move on.” Context decides.
How do I pronounce the sentence?

One common Oslo-area approximation:

  • Vi ≈ vee
  • må ≈ moh (long o)
  • se ≈ seh (long e)
  • fremover ≈ FREM-oh-ver (or framover ≈ FRAHM-oh-ver)
  • nå ≈ noh (long o) Primary stress on FREM-/FRAM-. Vowels vary by dialect.
How do I negate it correctly?

Be careful:

  • Vi må ikke se fremover nå = We must not look ahead now (prohibition).
  • To say “don’t have to,” use trenger ikke (å) or behøver ikke (å): Vi trenger ikke å se fremover nå.
Where does ikke go with a modal like må?
Right after the finite verb: Vi må ikke se fremover nå. If the sentence starts with Nå, you still put ikke after må: Nå må vi ikke se fremover.
How do I turn it into a question?
Invert subject and verb: Må vi se fremover nå? Using skal changes the nuance to “are we supposed to/shall we”: Skal vi se fremover nå?
Is this the same as “look forward to” something?

No. “Look forward to (doing something)” is se fram til (å) or glede seg til (å):

  • Jeg ser fram til å høre fra deg.
  • Jeg gleder meg til å høre fra deg. se fremover means “look ahead” (think about the future), not “be excited about.”
Is nå necessary?
No. Vi må se fremover works. nå adds a time frame or urgency: “now/from this point on.”
How can I make it softer or more collaborative?
  • La oss se fremover (nå). = Let’s look ahead.
  • Vi bør se fremover (nå). = We should look ahead.
  • Add softeners like kanskje, nok, bare: Vi må nok se fremover nå.
Can I use other verbs than se?

Yes, depending on nuance:

  • tenke fremover = think ahead
  • planlegge fremover = plan ahead
  • fokusere på framtiden = focus on the future
What’s the past form?
må → måtte. Past: Vi måtte se fremover. = We had to look ahead.
Difference between fremover and i framtiden/fremtiden?
  • fremover: “from now on/in the period ahead.”
  • i framtiden/fremtiden: “in the (general) future,” often more distant or abstract. Example: Vi må se fremover nå, but Vi må tenke på hva som kan skje i framtiden.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Norwegian grammar?”
Norwegian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Norwegian

Master Norwegian — from Vi må se fremover nå to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Norwegian→