When is Måneder, årstider og datoer used?

Ordenstall 1–31: første, andre, tredje, fjerde, femte, sjette, sjuende, åttende, niende, tiende, ellevte, tolvte, ... tjuende, tjueførste...

What are common mistakes with Måneder, årstider og datoer?

Learners capitalise months (English transfer) and mix up prepositions with seasons. 🇬🇧 English: English capitalises months (January) — Norwegian does NOT (januar). This is the most common written error. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian also uses lowercase months (январь). Preposition use differs (в январе = i januar). Ordinals are similar concept. 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech uses lowercase months (leden). 'V lednu' = 'i januar'. Ordinals familiar concept. 🇩🇪 German: German capitalises months (Januar). Norwegian does NOT — opposite rule! German 'im Januar' = Norwegian 'i januar'.

Måneder, årstider og datoer | Norwegian Grammar A1

Måneder, årstider og datoer

A1 — Ordforråd

Months (januar–desember, lowercase), seasons, dates with ordinal numbers

Can name months and seasons, use correct prepositions (om/i), and state dates using ordinal numbers

Months (januar–desember, lowercase), seasons, dates with ordinal numbers

Examples

Jeg ble født den syttende mai — det er Norges nasjonaldag! — I was born on the seventeenth of May — that is Norway's national day!
Om sommeren er det lyst hele natten i Nord-Norge. — In summer it is light all night long in northern Norway.
Julen feires den tjuefemte desember i Norge. — Christmas is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December in Norway.

OrdforrådA1

Months, seasons and dates

Months (januar–desember, lowercase), seasons with om/i prepositions, dates with ordinal numbers

Learning Goal

Can name months and seasons, use correct prepositions, and state dates using ordinal numbers

Exam Skills:LeseforståelseLytteforståelseMuntligSkriftlig

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Jeg ble født den syttende mai — det er Norges nasjonaldag!

I was born on the seventeenth of May — that is Norway's national day!

Om sommeren er det lyst hele natten i Nord-Norge.

In summer it is light all night long in northern Norway.

Julen feires den tjuefemte desember i Norge.

Christmas is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December in Norway.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Norwegian months are always lowercase (januar, ikke Januar). Seasons: vår/sommer/høst/vinter. Use 'om + definite' for habitual (om sommeren), 'i + bare form' for this season (i sommer). Dates: den + ordinal + month.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Main error: capitalising months (English/German transfer). Secondary: confusing om/i with seasons. 🇬🇧 English: Capitalises months — Norwegian does NOT.

Common Error Patterns

Capitalises months: 'Januar' instead of 'januar'

Norwegian months are NOT capitalised — unlike English (January) and German (Januar). Always lowercase: januar, februar, mars...

Confuses 'om' and 'i' with seasons: 'i sommeren' (habitual) or 'om sommer' (this summer)

'Om + definite' = habitual (om sommeren = in summer generally). 'I sommer/høst/vinter/vår' = this summer/autumn/winter/spring.

Jeg ble født den syttende mai — det er Norges nasjonaldag!

I was born on the seventeenth of May — that is Norway's national day!

'Den syttende mai' = the 17th of May. Ordinal 'syttende' + month (lowercase). Norway's constitution day.

Om sommeren er det lyst hele natten i Nord-Norge.

In summer it is light all night long in northern Norway.

'Om sommeren' = in summer (generally/every year). The preposition 'om' is used for habitual/general seasonal statements.

Julen feires den tjuefemte desember i Norge.

Christmas is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December in Norway.

'Den tjuefemte desember' = December 25th. Note: Norwegians also celebrate on den tjuefjerde (Christmas Eve, December 24th).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is Måneder, årstider og datoer used?: Ordenstall 1–31: første, andre, tredje, fjerde, femte, sjette, sjuende, åttende, niende, tiende, ellevte, tolvte, ... tjuende, tjueførste...
What are common mistakes with Måneder, årstider og datoer?: Learners capitalise months (English transfer) and mix up prepositions with seasons. 🇬🇧 English: English capitalises months (January) — Norwegian does NOT (januar). This is the most common written error. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian also uses lowercase months (январь). Preposition use differs (в январе = i januar). Ordinals are similar concept. 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech uses lowercase months (leden). 'V lednu' = 'i januar'. Ordinals familiar concept. 🇩🇪 German: German capitalises months (Januar). Norwegian does NOT — opposite rule! German 'im Januar' = Norwegian 'i januar'.