Hvis vi kommer for sent, blir kollegaen vår irritert.

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Breakdown of Hvis vi kommer for sent, blir kollegaen vår irritert.

• komme: to come
• kollega: the colleague
• hvis: if
• sent: late
• bli: to become
• vår: our
• irritert: irritated

Questions & Answers about Hvis vi kommer for sent, blir kollegaen vår irritert.

What does the conditional clause "Hvis vi kommer for sent" mean, and how does it set up the sentence structure?

"Hvis" translates to "if" in English, so "Hvis vi kommer for sent" means "if we come too late." This clause establishes a condition that must be met for the result to occur. In Norwegian, as in English, the sentence is divided into a subordinate (conditional) clause and a main clause, with a comma separating them when the conditional clause comes first.

Why is the noun written as "kollegaen" with the suffix "-en," and why is the possessive pronoun "vår" placed after it?

In Norwegian, the definite form of a noun is created by adding a suffix—in this case, "-en" to "kollega" to form "kollegaen," which means "the colleague." When a definite noun is paired with a possessive pronoun, the possessive (here, "vår" meaning "our") is placed after the noun. This post-nominal placement is a typical feature in Norwegian, though you might also see the variant "vår kollega" in less formal contexts.

What does the phrase "kommer for sent" indicate about the timing, and why is the word "for" used here?

"Kommer" is the present tense of "come," and "for sent" translates as "too late." The word "for" acts as an intensifier, emphasizing that the arrival is excessively late. Together, "kommer for sent" specifies the time-related condition that leads to the outcome described in the main clause.

Is it necessary to include a comma after "Hvis vi kommer for sent," and what role does punctuation play in this structure?

Yes, the comma is necessary. In Norwegian, a subordinate clause (like one introduced by "hvis") is typically set off from the main clause with a comma when it comes at the beginning of the sentence. This punctuation clarifies the division between the condition ("if we come too late") and the result ("our colleague becomes irritated"), making the sentence easier to read.

Why is the verb "blir" used in the main clause instead of a construction like "vil bli"?

The verb "blir" means "becomes" and is used here to describe a natural or habitual consequence of the condition. In this sentence, it indicates that the colleague naturally becomes irritated when the condition is met. While "vil bli" (meaning "will become") might emphasize a future consequence, using "blir" in the present tense is common in Norwegian for stating general truths or habitual outcomes.