Hi!! So on the Norwegian/English dictionary i was using I saw that both "hvis" and "om" can mean mean "if". Would you mind giving a quick rundown on how to use these? Thank you 💕
“Hvis” and “om” can be used interchangeably in conditional sentences/clauses and when expressing a wish, e.g.:
“Jeg kommer, om/hvis jeg har nok penger.” - “I’ll come, if I have enough money.”
“Hva om/hvis det regner?” - “What if it’s raining?”
“Om/hvis du skal dit, så kommer ikke jeg.” - “If you’re going, then I’m not coming.”
“Om/hvis du bare hadde hørt på meg!” - “If only you’d listened to me!”
However, even though they both technically mean “if”, they’re not always interchangeable – more to the point: there exists a handful of circumstances in which you’ll only be able to use “om”.
For example, you can only use “om” to report indirect yes-no questions, OR to express an alternative - in other words; “om” can function just like the English “whether”. (keep in mind that when you use the English “whether” you usually have to add “or not” somewhere in the sentence - which isn’t obligatory in Norwegian.)
“Vet du om hun kommer?” - “Do you know if she’s coming?” OR “Do you know whether she’s coming (or not)?”
“Jeg vet ikke om hun kommer.” - “I don’t know if she’s coming.” OR “I don’t know whether she’s coming (or not).”
“Jeg lurte på om jeg skulle ta meg en gåtur.” - “I was wondering if I should go for a walk.” OR “I was wondering whether I should go for a walk (or not).”
Basically, if you’re able to use “whether” in the English translation, you’re most likely dealing with a sentence where you’re only able to use “om” - I really can’t think of any other way to explain it :c
You can also only use “om” in hypothetical comparisons - and it will usually be paired with “som” - kind of like how you’d use “as if” in English, e.g.:
“Det så ut som om lynet hadde slått ned.” - “It looked like/as if lightning had struck.”
(it might sound more natural to use “like” in the English translation - but since you’re most likely already thinking of “om” as the Norwegian “if”, it’s probably easier this way: “som om” = “as if”.)
You can also only use “om” in certain admission sentences or contrasting clauses - and most of the time it’ll be paired with either “selv”, “enn”, or “så”.
“Jeg drar, selv om du ikke vil.” - “I’m going, even if you don’t want to.”
“Han så bedre ut, om enn noe blek.” - “He looked better, if a bit pale.”
“Vi drar nå, om jeg så må tvinge deg.” - “We’re leaving now, even if I have to force you.”
I might have forgotten a few, but that should cover a fair bit of it! c: