What is important to know about the future
In Norwegian, the future is often expressed not by one special tense, but by several different patterns. At A2 level, it is especially important to understand the difference between the present tense with future meaning, the construction skal, and the construction kommer til å. The choice depends on whether we are talking about a schedule, an intention, a plan, or a prediction.
1. Present tense with future meaning
Norwegian very often uses the ordinary present tense when the context already makes it clear that the meaning is future. There is usually a time expression nearby, such as i morgen, på fredag, neste uke, or snart.
This is especially common for schedules, arrangements, and actions that are already organized.
Examples:
Jeg reiser til Oslo i morgen. — The action is in the future.
Vi møtes klokka seks. — This expresses an arrangement.
Toget går om ti minutter. — This is typical for timetables.
Hun begynner i ny jobb neste måned. — Present tense refers to a future event.
If the action is already planned or part of a schedule, the present tense sounds natural and is often preferred.
2. The construction skal
Skal is often used when we talk about intention, decision, promise, arrangement, or plan. It often shows that someone is going to do something.
Structure:
subject + skal + infinitive
Examples:
Jeg skal ringe deg i kveld.
Vi skal besøke bestemor i helga.
Han skal studere mer neste år.
Skal du jobbe i morgen?
In many cases, skal is connected with intention or a decision already made. It can also express a promise:
Jeg skal hjelpe deg.
3. The construction kommer til å
Kommer til å is often used when the speaker makes a prediction, draws a conclusion, or says what they think will happen. It also works when a future event seems likely because of the situation.
Structure:
subject + kommer til å + infinitive
Examples:
Det kommer til å regne i morgen.
Hun kommer til å bli glad.
Dette kommer til å ta tid.
De kommer til å vinne.
Here the focus is not on a person’s plan, but on an expected result or prediction.
4. The difference between skal and kommer til å
At A2 level, it helps to remember this simple contrast:
skal — plan, intention, decision;
kommer til å — prediction, assumption, expected result;
present tense — schedule, arrangement, or already organized future action.
Compare:
Jeg skal møte Anna i morgen. — There is a plan.
Det kommer til å bli hyggelig. — This is an expectation or prediction.
Jeg møter Anna i morgen. — This presents the future as an arranged action.
5. When several options are possible
In real speech, different forms are sometimes possible, but the meaning changes slightly.
Vi skal flytte til Bergen. — Emphasis on intention or plan.
Vi flytter til Bergen i august. — Emphasis on something already arranged.
Det kommer til å bli vanskelig å flytte. — Emphasis on evaluation or prediction.
So it is important not only to know the form, but also to understand the nuance you want to express.
6. Future with common everyday verbs
In everyday speech, future expressions often appear with verbs connected to daily plans, work, travel, or study: reise, dra, komme, jobbe, studere, møte, kjøpe.
Examples:
Jeg drar tidlig i morgen.
Vi skal kjøpe en ny sofa.
Han kommer til å komme for sent.
Barna begynner på skolen neste uke.
7. Questions about the future
To ask about the future, Norwegian uses the same constructions. Questions follow the normal rule: the finite verb comes before the subject.
Examples:
Skal dere reise i sommer?
Kommer det til å snø i kveld?
Jobber du i morgen?
Notice that a question in the present tense can also refer to the future if the time expression makes this clear.
8. Negation in future expressions
Negation usually comes after the finite verb.
Examples:
Jeg skal ikke være hjemme i kveld.
Det kommer ikke til å bli lett.
Vi reiser ikke på fredag.
In the construction kommer til å, ikke comes after kommer: kommer ikke til å.
9. Typical future time markers
To recognize future meaning more easily, it helps to remember common time expressions:
i morgen
i kveld
snart
neste uke
neste måned
til helga / i helga
om en time
senere
These words often show that a present tense form is actually talking about the future.
10. Common difficulties
Russian-speaking learners often want to use one future form in every situation. In Norwegian, that sounds unnatural. It is better to choose based on meaning:
for schedules or clear arrangements, the present tense is often best;
for intention or promise, skal is often best;
for prediction or conclusion, kommer til å is often best.
Another common difficulty is confusing a plan with a prediction. Compare:
Jeg skal lage middag i kveld. — a plan.
Det kommer til å bli en god middag. — an expected result.
Summary
In Norwegian, the future is expressed in several natural ways. The present tense is used for schedules and arranged actions. Skal helps express intentions, decisions, and plans. Kommer til å is used for predictions and likely results. At A2 level, it is important not only to recognize these forms, but also to feel the difference between a plan, an arrangement, and an assumption.