Han blir ofte trist hvis han ikke får noen fridager i det hele tatt.

He often becomes sad if he doesn't get any days off at all.

Breakdown of Han blir ofte trist hvis han ikke får noen fridager i det hele tatt.

• han: he
• hvis: if
• bli: to become
• ikke: not
• ofte: often
• få: to get
• trist: sad
• noen: any
• fridag: the day off
• i det hele tatt: at all

Questions & Answers about Han blir ofte trist hvis han ikke får noen fridager i det hele tatt.

What does the verb blir mean in this sentence?

Blir translates as "becomes" in English. It indicates a change of state—he turns or becomes sad under the given conditions.

How does the adverb ofte function in the sentence?

Ofte means "often" and functions as an adverb modifying blir. It tells us that his becoming sad happens frequently.

What role does the conjunction hvis play here?

Hvis means "if" and is used to introduce a conditional clause. It sets up the condition under which he becomes sad—namely, when he does not get any days off.

What is the meaning of fridager in this context?

Fridager means "days off" or "free days," referring to days when one is not working. The plural form suggests more than one day off.

How should one understand the phrase i det hele tatt in the sentence?

I det hele tatt translates to "at all" in English. It emphasizes the complete absence of days off, underscoring that he gets absolutely no free days.

How is negation expressed in the sentence and what is its effect?

Negation is expressed by ikke (meaning "not") in combination with noen (meaning "any"). This structure clearly states that he does not receive any days off whatsoever, reinforcing the strict condition that causes his sadness.