Lesson goal
In this lesson, we will look at the form perfektum: how to build the combination har + perfektum partisipp and when to use it for experience, an already completed action, and a result that is important now. This tense is needed when we speak not simply about the past, but about something that has already happened by the present moment.
New vocabulary
har spist — has eaten, ate
har drukket — has drunk, drank
har lest — has read, read
har skrevet — has written, wrote
har kjøpt — has bought
har sett — has seen, watched
har vært — has been, visited
har kommet — has come, arrived
Useful phrases
Jeg har lest boka. — I have read the book.
Hun har kjøpt en jakke. — She has bought a jacket.
Vi har vært i Norge. — We have been to Norway.
Har du sett filmen? — Have you seen the film?
Jeg har skrevet en e-post. — I have written an email.
Han har kommet hjem. — He has come home.
Grammar
Perfektum is formed with har and the past participle form: jeg har lest, hun har kjøpt, vi har vært. In this construction, har does not change by person: jeg har, du har, han har, vi har. The main meaning is that the action has already been completed, but its result, experience, or relevance is connected to the present. For example, Jeg har spist means that I have already eaten, and this is important now. Perfektum is often used when no exact time is mentioned and the fact itself is what matters: Har du sett filmen? If it is a question, har usually comes before the subject: Har du lest boka? Some forms need to be memorized as fixed forms: vært from være, kommet from komme, skrevet from skrive, drukket from drikke. At the A2 level, it is important to recognize the whole pattern and confidently use frequent forms in speech.
Examples
Jeg har spist frokost. — I have eaten breakfast.
Du har drukket kaffe. — You have drunk coffee.
Hun har lest avisa. — She has read the newspaper.
Vi har skrevet en melding. — We have written a message.
De har kjøpt en bil. — They have bought a car.
Han har sett serien. — He has watched the series.
Jeg har vært i Oslo. — I have been to Oslo.
Toget har kommet. — The train has arrived.
Har dere vært i Norge før? — Have you been to Norway before?
Jeg har ikke lest boka ennå. — I have not read the book yet.
Hun har ikke kommet hjem. — She has not come home yet.
Har du skrevet til læreren? — Have you written to the teacher?