[Norwegian] When to Use: ANNERLEDES & FORSKJELLIG
Sources: http://grammatikk.com/pdf/ForAnn.pdf , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T29KzevkkJI , and a couple Norwegians
Annerledes ≈ different, contrasting, out of the ordinary
Use it
To compare the subject (of a clause) with something else
As an adjective meaning different in the traditional sense of contrasting, not the same
As an adjective meaning different in a general sense (different than what one is used to, how something was before, everything else, etc.)
With the word enn to say that the subject is different than something else
Examples
In the following examples, the subject is in bold italics and the thing being compared to the subject is in bold. If there is no direct comparison, italics will denote what annerledes modifies.
Katter er annerledes enn hunder. | Cats are different than dogs.
Jordbær og blåbær er like, men brokkoli og blomkål er annerledes. | Strawberries and blueberries are similar, but broccoli and cauliflower are different (than berries).
Alt er annerledes her. | Everything is different here. (You could also think of this as an implied comparison to another place, or just in general)
Jeg ser annerledes ut, nå som jeg har klippet håret. | I look different, now that I have cut my hair. (You could also think of this as an implied comparison to how the speaker looked before the haircut)
Vi spiser annerledes mat. | We eat different food. (Note that this does not mean “We eat different food than each other,” but rather “We eat peculiar/out of the ordinary/different food.” Think of the song “I’m Different”)
Forskjellig ≈ different, contrasting, various
Use it
To compare parts of the subject with each other
As an adjective meaning different in the traditional sense of contrasting, not the same
As an adjective meaning various
With the word fra to say that the subject is different from something else
Examples
In the following examples, the subject (or a part of it) is in bold italics and the thing (which in this case could be another part of the subject) being compared to the former subject is in bold. For clauses in which the subject consists of more than one noun, the entire subject is in [brackets]. If there is no direct comparison, italics will denote what forskjellig modifies. Also note that when forskjellig applies to two or more things (which is often), it must be in the plural form (forskjellige).
[Katter og hunder] er forskjellige. | [Cats and dogs] are different.
Katter er forskjellige fra hunder. | Cats are different from dogs.
Jordbær og blåbær er like, men [brokkoli og blåbær] er forskjellige. | Strawberries and blueberries are similar, but [broccoli and blueberries] are different (from each other).
Boka inneholder forskjellige folkeeventyr. | The book contains various folk tales.
Vi spiser forskjellig mat. | We eat different food. (“You and I eat foods that are different from one another.” – compare to the similar example above with annerledes)
Notes:
annerledes enn = forskjellig/e fra
