Questions & Answers about Vi skal dra til Oslo i morgen.
What exactly does skal mean in this sentence? Is it like English “will” or “shall”?
In Vi skal dra til Oslo i morgen, skal is a present-tense modal verb used to talk about the future.
It most often corresponds to:
- “am/is/are going to”
- Vi skal dra til Oslo i morgen.
→ We are going to go to Oslo tomorrow.
- Vi skal dra til Oslo i morgen.
It can also feel a bit like “will” when there is a clear plan or intention.
So here, skal expresses a planned future action, not obligation. It does not mean must in this sentence (though skal can mean must in other contexts, especially in instructions or rules).
Why do we need both skal and dra? Could I just say Vi drar til Oslo i morgen?
Both are possible, but there is a nuance:
- Vi skal dra til Oslo i morgen.
- Stronger feeling of plan/arrangement. Often used when talking about future plans.
- Vi drar til Oslo i morgen.
- Grammatically present tense, but with i morgen it’s understood as future.
- Feels a bit more like stating a scheduled / fixed event, similar to English “We’re going to Oslo tomorrow” or “We leave for Oslo tomorrow.”
In everyday speech, both are natural. Skal + infinitive is a very common, clear way to talk about the future, especially for learners.