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Past tense or present perfect? Explanations and exercises

Publisher: NorskMentor. Original practice material; not an official test or level assessment.

The past tense often describes a finished time: «Jeg jobbet i går». The present perfect often connects the past with the present: «Jeg har jobbet i butikk før». The time phrase and your intended meaning help you choose.

A specific finished time

In «Jeg sendte søknaden i går», «i går» places the action in a finished period. Other examples are «forrige uke» and «i fjor». Describe three things you did yesterday using forms such as «gikk», «skrev» or «snakket».

Experience and the connection to now

«Jeg har jobbet i butikk før» describes experience that may matter now, without a specified finished time. «Jeg har bodd her i to år» can describe a continuing situation; «Jeg bodde der i to år» describes a completed period there.

Context matters. A phrase such as «i dag» may appear in different accounts; consider whether you present a finished event or experience/result up to now. These examples are a starting point, not a rule deciding every case.

Fra spørsmål til svar

Når skrev du søknaden? – Jeg skrev den i går kveld.

Har du skrevet en søknad før? – Ja, jeg har skrevet flere.

Hvor lenge har du jobbet her? – Jeg har jobbet her siden mandag.

Make two versions of the same account

First write three sentences with a finished past time. Then write three sentences about your experience without specifying exactly when. Mark «har» and the participle in the perfect sentences. Read both texts and explain the difference in meaning.

Try it yourself: open tasks with explanations

Choose an answer, or open the answer key directly without an account. These tasks are practice, not an official level assessment.

I går ___ jeg en søknad.
Show answer and explanation

skrev

«I går» identifies a finished time in the past. The past tense «skrev» fits here.

Jeg ___ i butikk før, så jeg kjenner arbeidsoppgavene.
Show answer and explanation

har jobbet

The experience matters now, without a specified finished past time. «Har jobbet» expresses that experience.

Hun ___ her siden mandag, og hun er fortsatt her.
Show answer and explanation

har vært

«Siden mandag» and «fortsatt her» connect the situation to the present. «Har vært» fits this context.

Sources and official examples

Frequently asked questions

Are «jobbet» and «har jobbet» the same?
They can refer to the same activity but present its relationship to time differently. Examine context and time expressions.
How can I check a verb form?
Look up the infinitive in Bokmålsordboka and inspect its inflection, then use the form in a complete sentence.

How to practise this in NorskMentor

  • Grammar

    Level A1–B2

    Chapters that explain the rule, and four exercise types that show whether you actually know it.

    Open module

  • Writing

    Level A1–B2

    Write the task types from the test and get feedback on level, structure, grammar and vocabulary.

    Open module

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NorskMentor is a practice tool and is not affiliated with the organiser of Norskprøven. Level requirements for residence and citizenship are set by UDI and can change — check udi.no for the current rules.