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Jeg blir urolig når påminnelsene ikke kommer.

Jeg blir urolig når påminnelsene ikke kommer.
I get uneasy when the reminders do not arrive.
FromLesson 31inHardcore Norwegian
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Breakdown of Jeg blir urolig når påminnelsene ikke kommer.

jeg
I
når
when
komme
to arrive
bli
to become
ikke
not
påminnelsen
the reminder
urolig
uneasy
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Questions & Answers about Jeg blir urolig når påminnelsene ikke kommer.

What does "blir" mean here, and why not "er"?

Here blir means “become/get,” signaling a change of state.

  • Jeg blir urolig … = I get/become uneasy (as a reaction when the condition occurs).
  • Jeg er urolig … = I am uneasy (a state that holds whenever the condition is true).
    Both can work, but blir emphasizes the reaction.
Why is it "når påminnelsene ikke kommer" and not "når påminnelsene kommer ikke"?

Because når introduces a subordinate clause. In Norwegian subordinate clauses, the verb comes after the negation: subject – ikke – verb.

  • Subordinate: når påminnelsene ikke kommer
  • Main clause: Påminnelsene kommer ikke
What’s the difference between "når", "da", and "hvis/om"?
  • når = when/whenever (present/future or habitual situations).
  • da = when (one specific event in the past).
  • hvis/om = if (a condition).
    Examples:
  • Past single event: Jeg ble urolig da påminnelsene ikke kom (i går).
  • Condition: Jeg blir urolig hvis/om påminnelsene ikke kommer.
Can I front the "når"-clause?

Yes: Når påminnelsene ikke kommer, blir jeg urolig.
Notice the main clause inversion (blir jeg) after a fronted subordinate clause. You may optionally add så after the comma in speech or informal writing: Når …, så blir jeg …

Should there be a comma before "når" in the original sentence?

No. When the subordinate clause follows the main clause, Norwegian normally doesn’t use a comma: Jeg blir urolig når …
If the subordinate clause comes first, use a comma after it: Når …, blir jeg urolig.

Why is it the definite plural "påminnelsene" and not "påminnelser"?

The definite form påminnelsene suggests a specific, known set (e.g., the reminders from your app/bank). The indefinite plural påminnelser is more generic and is less natural here unless you mean reminders in general.

  • når påminnelsene ikke kommer = when the (expected) reminders don’t arrive.
  • når påminnelser ikke kommer = when reminders (in general) don’t arrive.
How do you inflect "påminnelse"?
  • Indefinite singular: en påminnelse
  • Definite singular: påminnelsen (also påminnelsa in informal Bokmål)
  • Indefinite plural: påminnelser
  • Definite plural: påminnelsene
    Common collocation: en påminnelse om noe (a reminder about something).
Could I use "ingen" instead of "ikke"?

Yes, but the structure changes:

  • Når ingen påminnelser kommer, … = when no reminders come (indefinite subject).
    With a definite subject (påminnelsene), use ikke with the verb: når påminnelsene ikke kommer.
Where does "ikke" go in subordinate clauses?

Typical order: subordinator – subject – ikke – finite verb – …

  • Correct: når påminnelsene ikke kommer
  • Incorrect: når påminnelsene kommer ikke (that order is for main clauses).
What’s the nuance of "urolig"? Are there better choices?

Urolig can mean uneasy, agitated, or restless. Alternatives:

  • bekymret = worried
  • engstelig = anxious/fearful
  • nervøs = nervous (often about performance/events)
    You can also specify the cause: urolig for … (uneasy about …).
Does "urolig" agree with the subject?

In predicative position (after er/blir), only the plural takes -e.

  • Singular: Jeg blir urolig.
  • Plural: Vi blir urolige.
Can I say "når jeg ikke får påminnelser" instead of "når påminnelsene ikke kommer"?

Yes.

  • får påminnelser focuses on receiving them.
  • påminnelsene kommer focuses on their arrival/appearance.
    Both are natural; with notifications/messages, får can feel a bit more idiomatic.
Is "kommer" the best verb here? What about "ankommer", "dukker opp", or "kommer fram"?
  • kommer is the neutral, everyday choice.
  • ankommer is formal/technical, used for transport schedules, not for reminders.
  • dukker opp = “show up/appear,” a bit more casual.
  • kommer fram = “arrive/get through” (e.g., mail/messages reaching you).
    Examples: Når påminnelsene ikke dukker opp / ikke kommer fram …
How would I say this in the past (one specific time)?

Jeg ble urolig da påminnelsene ikke kom.
(Past of bli is ble; past of komme is kom. Perfect: Jeg har blitt urolig …)

Any quick pronunciation tips?
  • blir: roughly “bleer” [bliːr]
  • urolig: “oo-ROO-lee” ([ʉˈruːli])
  • påminnelsene: “POH-minn-ell-seh-neh” ([ˈpoːmɪnːəlsənə])
  • når: “nohr” ([noːr])