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Struggling with how to express future actions in Norwegian? You're not alone. The difficulty lies in the crucial distinctions between "skal," "vil," and "kommer til å" – three expressions that all translate to "will" in English but carry significantly different meanings in Norwegian. This episode dives deep into these differences, revealing how choosing the wrong one can accidentally make you sound controlling or create unintended meanings.

We explore how "skal" is perfect for expressing plans you can control (things you could put in your calendar), while "kommer til å" is the go-to choice for future events that will happen naturally without your direct control. You'll discover why saying "Du skal like jobben din" sounds like you're ordering someone to enjoy their job, and why weather forecasts often use "skal" in a completely different way that has nothing to do with planning.

The episode also unpacks secondary meanings of these expressions, including the idiomatic "Det skal ikke være lett" (It's not supposed to be easy), which Norwegians use to sympathize with life's difficulties. We clarify how the past tense "skulle" typically means "was going to" rather than "should," and why "burde" is often the safer choice when you want to express what someone should do.

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Transcript available here: https://the-norwegian-puzzle.buzzsprout.com

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