Breakdown of Det kommer an på trafikken om jeg rekker bussen.
jeg
I
det
it
bussen
the bus
trafikken
the traffic
om
whether
komme an på
to depend on
rekke
to catch
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Questions & Answers about Det kommer an på trafikken om jeg rekker bussen.
What is going on grammatically in Det kommer an på? Is det required?
Det kommer an på is a fixed idiom meaning “depends on.” The det is a dummy subject and is required in standard written Norwegian: Det kommer an på trafikken … In short, elliptical replies you may hear the det dropped (e.g., Kommer an på været), but keep det in full sentences.
Why is the preposition på used after kommer an? Could I use av?
With this idiom you must use på: komme an på noe. If you want to use av, switch to the synonym avhenge av: Det avhenger av trafikken … Both are natural, but the preposition belongs to the verb phrase you choose.
Can I front the om-clause?
Yes, but keep the dummy subject: Om jeg rekker bussen, kommer det an på trafikken. Do not write Om jeg rekker bussen, kommer an på trafikken (missing det).
Why is there no comma before om in the original sentence?
In Norwegian you normally do not put a comma before a subordinate clause that directly follows the main clause as its object/complement: Det kommer an på trafikken om … If you front the subordinate clause, you do use a comma: Om jeg rekker bussen, kommer det an på trafikken.
Why om here and not hvis or at?
- om introduces an indirect yes/no question, i.e., “whether.” That’s what you need here: … om jeg rekker bussen.
- hvis means “if” (conditional) and would change the meaning.
- at means “that” and cannot express “whether.”
You can also use the more formal hvorvidt: … hvorvidt jeg rekker bussen.
Is it normal to have both på trafikken and an om-clause after kommer an?
Yes. You’re specifying both the factor it depends on (trafikken) and the uncertain outcome (om jeg rekker bussen). This is natural: Det kommer an på været om vi drar.
Why are trafikken and bussen in the definite form?
Because you’re referring to specific, contextually known things: the traffic conditions relevant to your trip and the bus you intend to catch. Norwegian uses the suffixed definite article: trafikken (the traffic), bussen (the bus). Using the indefinite here would sound odd.
Why is it om jeg rekker (subject before verb) and not om rekker jeg?
In subordinate clauses (triggered by om, at, etc.), Norwegian does not use main-clause V2 word order. The finite verb stays after the subject: … om jeg rekker bussen, not … om rekker jeg bussen.
What exactly does å rekke mean here, and how is it different from å ta or å nå?
- å rekke (bussen) means “to make/catch (the bus) in time.”
- å ta (bussen) means “to take/ride (the bus).”
- å nå (bussen) is uncommon in this sense; use rekke for catching a departure.
Also useful: å rekke å + infinitiv = “to have time to do something” (e.g., Jeg rekker å spise).
How do you conjugate rekke?
It’s irregular:
- Present: rekker (Jeg rekker bussen.)
- Preterite: rakk (Jeg rakk bussen.)
- Past participle: rukket (Jeg har ikke rukket det ennå.)
With the bus, the simple past is most common: Rakk du bussen?
Can I add eller ikke to make the “whether or not” explicit?
Yes: Det kommer an på trafikken om jeg rekker bussen eller ikke. You can also place eller ikke earlier if it reads more naturally in context.
How do I negate this sentence? Where does ikke go?
- Negating the dependency: Det kommer ikke an på trafikken om jeg rekker bussen.
- Negating the outcome inside the om-clause: Det kommer an på trafikken om jeg ikke rekker bussen.
These say different things, so choose based on meaning.
Why is the present tense used for a future situation?
Norwegian often uses the present to talk about the (near) future when context makes it clear: … om jeg rekker bussen = “whether I’ll catch the bus.” You could add skal if you want: om jeg skal rekke bussen, but it isn’t necessary.
Is Det avhenger av … interchangeable with Det kommer an på …?
Yes, in most contexts: Det avhenger av trafikken om jeg rekker bussen. avhenger av is a bit more formal/literary; kommer an på is very common in everyday speech.
Can I use hvorvidt instead of om?
Yes, but it’s more formal: Det kommer an på trafikken hvorvidt jeg rekker bussen. In everyday speech, om is preferred.
Could I say Det kommer an på trafikken at jeg rekker bussen?
No. at means “that” and cannot introduce a “whether”-clause. Use om or hvorvidt for that meaning.
Any dialect or variety notes?
- Nynorsk: Det kjem an på trafikken om eg rekk bussen.
- You may also hear Det spørs (om …) as a synonym for “It depends,” but in standard Bokmål avoid spørs på; say Det spørs om jeg rekker bussen or Det spørs hvordan trafikken er.