Vi rekker møtet hvis vi skynder oss.

We will make it to the meeting if we hurry.

Breakdown of Vi rekker møtet hvis vi skynder oss.

• vi: we
• møtet: the meeting
• hvis: if
• skynde seg: to hurry
• rekke: to make it

Questions & Answers about Vi rekker møtet hvis vi skynder oss.

What exactly does rekker mean here?

Here rekke means make it (in time), as in manage to arrive before something starts. It is the standard verb for catching a bus, train, deadline, or event.

• Rekker du bussen? Will you make the bus?
• Vi rakk filmen. We made the movie (in time). It can also mean be enough: Tiden rekker ikke (There isn’t enough time).

Why is it møtet and not møte?

Because it’s a specific, known meeting, so Norwegian uses the definite form. Møte is a neuter noun:

• Indefinite singular: et møte
• Definite singular: møtet
• Indefinite plural: møter
• Definite plural: møtene

Why do we say skynder oss and not just skynder?

Å skynde seg is a reflexive verb meaning to hurry (oneself). The reflexive pronoun must match the subject:

• jeg skynder meg
• du skynder deg
• han/hun skynder seg
• vi skynder oss
• dere skynder dere
• de skynder seg

Can I say rekker til møtet?

No. Rekke takes a direct object with this meaning: rekke møtet, rekke bussen, rekke fristen. Use a preposition with other verbs:

• komme på møtet (attend/come to the meeting)
• dra til møtet (go to the meeting)

Is a comma needed before hvis, and can I put the if‑clause first?

• As written (main clause first), no comma is needed: Vi rekker møtet hvis vi skynder oss.
• If you start with the if‑clause, add a comma and keep verb‑second in the main clause: Hvis vi skynder oss, rekker vi møtet.

Why present tense (rekker, skynder) for a future meaning?

Norwegian often uses the present for near or certain future when context makes the time clear. You could also say:

• Vi skal rekke møtet (we intend/plan to make it)
• Vi kommer til å rekke møtet (we will probably make it; prediction)

Can I use om or når instead of hvis?

• hvis = if (neutral, most common for conditions)
• om = if/whether (very common in speech for conditions; also means whether)
• når = when (time). Using når here would mean whenever/each time: Når vi skynder oss, rekker vi møtet (a general truth), not a conditional.

Where does ikke go if I want to negate it?

Place ikke after the finite verb:

• Main clause: Vi rekker ikke møtet hvis vi skynder oss.
• Subordinate clause: Vi rekker møtet hvis vi ikke skynder oss. (means we won’t make it if we don’t hurry)

Can I say rekke å + infinitive instead?

Yes. Rekke å means manage to/have time to do something:

• Vi rekker å komme på møtet.
• Rekker du å spise før møtet?

How do I conjugate rekke and å skynde seg?

• å rekke: present rekker, preterite rakk, perfect har rukket, imperative rekk.
• å skynde seg: present skynder (seg), preterite skyndet (seg) (also heard: skyndte), perfect har skyndet (seg).

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky sounds?

• ø in møtet: rounded front vowel (like German ö).
• y in skynder: rounded front vowel (like German ü).
• sk before y gives an sh‑sound: skynder ≈ SHIN‑der (with Norwegian y).
• Double consonant in rekker means a short preceding vowel: REK‑ker.

Could I say Vi må skynde oss for å rekke møtet?

Yes. That means we must hurry in order to make it to the meeting. It expresses necessity/purpose, not a pure condition.

Why not use klarer, når, or får tid instead of rekker?

• klare = manage/cope (not idiomatic for making an event on time: Vi klarer møtet means we handle the meeting).
• nå = reach/achieve; nå møtet is unnatural here.
• få tid (til) = have time (to do something): use with an infinitive, e.g., Vi får tid til å være med på møtet (we’ll have time to attend).

Is there anything special about word order in the hvis clause?

Yes. In subordinate clauses, the verb does not move to second position. So it’s hvis vi skynder oss (subject before verb), not hvis skynder vi oss.

Can I replace møtet with det?

Yes, if it’s clear from context: Vi rekker det hvis vi skynder oss. Here det refers to the meeting already known in the conversation.