Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg ber om mer tid.

Ber om literally means “to ask for” or “to request” something. It always appears as be om + object (e.g. be om hjelp, be om mer tid).
Spør om more often means “to ask about” or “to inquire” (pose a question). You might spør om veien (“ask for directions”), but for making a formal request—like asking for more time—you use be om.

Why is om necessary after ber?

In Norwegian, be om is a two-part verb meaning “to request.” The preposition om links the action of asking (be) to the thing you want. You cannot drop om—without it, the sentence doesn’t correctly express “asking for” something.

How do I conjugate å be om noe in different tenses?

Infinitive: å be om
Present: jeg ber om (I ask for)
Past: jeg ba om (I asked for)
Perfect: jeg har bedt om (I have asked for)
Pluperfect: jeg hadde bedt om (I had asked for)

Why is it mer tid and not mye tid, and when would I use flere timer?

Mye tid = “much time.”
Mer tid = “more time” (comparative of mye).
Use mer tid when you want “more” of an uncountable noun like “time.”
Flere timer = “more hours” (hours are countable). If you need extra hours rather than time in general, say jeg ber om flere timer.

Are there any common synonyms or alternative ways to express this request?

Yes. For example:

Jeg trenger mer tid. (“I need more time.”) States necessity rather than a formal request.
Kan jeg få litt mer tid? (“Can I get a little more time?”) More conversational.
Vær så snill, gi meg mer tid. (“Please give me more time.”) Stronger plea using vær så snill.

What is the word order in Jeg ber om mer tid, and does it follow any special rule?

It follows the Norwegian V2 (verb-second) rule for main clauses:
Subject (Jeg) – Finite verb (ber) – Prepositional part (om) – Object (mer tid).
If you front a time or place element, the verb still stays second:
I morgen ber jeg om mer tid. (“Tomorrow I ask for more time.”)

How is Jeg ber om mer tid pronounced?

Jeg [jæɪ] (“yai”)
ber [beːr] (“bear” without the /a/)
om [ɔm] (“ohm”)
mer [meːr] (“mare” with a long /e/)
tid [tiː] (“tee,” with a silent or lightly pronounced d)
Each word gets light stress; the strongest syllable is on ber.

Is Jeg ber om mer tid formal or informal, and when would I use it?

It’s a neutral-to-formal phrasing, common in written or official contexts (e.g., emails, meetings). In casual speech you might soften it with a question form:
Kan jeg få litt mer tid? (“Can I get a little more time?”)
But Jeg ber om mer tid is perfectly polite and often used in business or formal settings.