Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Hvis batteriet mitt er tomt, kan jeg lade det mens sjokoladen smelter. - If my battery is empty, I can charge it while the chocolate melts.

hvis means “if” in Norwegian. It introduces a conditional (subordinate) clause. The typical word order is hvis + subject + verb + rest (e.g. hvis batteriet mitt er tomt).

Why is there a comma after tomt?

Norwegian normally places a comma between a subordinate clause (here introduced by hvis) and the main clause. So after Hvis batteriet mitt er tomt, you mark the end of that clause with a comma before starting kan jeg ....

Why does the main clause read kan jeg lade det rather than jeg kan lade det?

Norwegian follows the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in the second position of a main clause. Since the entire hvis-clause counts as the first position, the verb kan comes before the subject jeg in the main clause:
1st element: Hvis … er tomt,
2nd element (verb): kan,
then jeg.

Why is batteriet mitt used instead of mitt batteri or min batteri?

In Norwegian, a definite noun with a possessive pronoun is formed by adding the definite suffix to the noun and placing the pronoun after it.
• batteri (indefinite) → batteriet (definite neuter)
• then add the corresponding possessive mitt (neuter form of “my”).
You can’t say min batteri because min is for masculine/feminine nouns, and you can’t say mitt batteri in this pattern because Norwegian uses the post-nominal possessive with definite suffix.

Why is the adjective tomt written with -t at the end?

Adjectives in Norwegian agree in gender and number. tom is the base form; with a neuter noun (like batteri), you add -t: tomt.

What does mens mean in this sentence, and how does it differ from når?

mens means while, indicating two actions happening simultaneously: “charge it while the chocolate melts.”
når also means when, but it’s typically used for single events or habitual actions, not ongoing parallel actions.

Why do we say lade det, and why is it det not den?

lade (“to charge”) is a transitive verb here, so it needs an object: lade det (“charge it”).
The pronoun det refers back to batteriet, which is neuter (hence det, not den, which is for masculine/feminine nouns).

Why is there no progressive tense for smelting (like “is melting”)?

Norwegian doesn’t have a separate continuous/progressive aspect. The simple present tense (smelter) covers both “melts” and “is melting.” Context tells you it’s happening right now.

Can I say lade opp instead of just lade, and does it change the meaning?

Yes. lade opp is a separable verb meaning to charge up. In a sentence you’d split it: lade det opp. In casual speech lade alone often suffices when the context (battery) is clear.

Could we use om instead of hvis for “if”? Any nuance?

Both hvis and om can mean if, but hvis is more direct for real conditions. om is often used in indirect questions or when the condition feels more uncertain (“if it happens that…”). In everyday speech, hvis is safest for clear conditions.