Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg.

to be

Breakdown of Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg.

• du: you
• ringe: to call
• når: when

Questions & Answers about Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg.

Why is it ringer du and not du ringer?

Because the sentence starts with a subordinate clause (Når du er ferdig). In Norwegian main clauses, the verb normally comes in the second position (V2 rule).
So when the time clause comes first, the main clause still needs the verb in position 2, causing inversion:

• Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg. (subordinate clause first → verb before subject)
• Du ringer meg når du er ferdig. (main clause first → normal order)

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What exactly is Når doing here? Could it be da instead?

Når introduces a time clause meaning when/whenever (often general or repeated situations, and also commonly used for future events).
Da is usually used for when (then) in a specific past situation:

• General/future: Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg.
• Specific past: Da du var ferdig, ringte du meg.

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Why is the verb in the present tense (ringer) if the meaning is about the future?

Norwegian often uses the present tense to talk about future events, especially with a time expression like når:

• Når du er ferdig, ringer du meg. = “When you’re done, you’ll call me.”

You can add a future marker, but it’s usually not necessary here.

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Is er ferdig a tense (like present perfect), or what kind of construction is it?