Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Det er umulig å rekke toget nå. - It is impossible to catch the train now.

Det is a dummy subject (expletive). Norwegian often uses Det er + adjective + å + infinitive to express general statements like It is impossible to do X.

Pattern: Det er [adj.] å [verb].
Examples: Det er lett å forstå. / Det er vanskelig å si.

Why is catch the train translated with rekke, not ta or fange?

rekke means make it in time for something. rekke toget = make/catch the train (arrive before it leaves).
ta means take (ride): ta toget = travel by train.
fange means to capture (physically catch), not used for schedules.

Does rekke take a preposition, or just a direct object?

It takes a direct object: rekke noe (no preposition), e.g., rekke toget, rekke fristen (make the deadline). Be careful with:

rekke til = be enough/suffice: Pengene rekker til husleia.
rekke til can also mean reach to (physically): Kjolen rekker til knærne.

How do you conjugate rekke?

It’s irregular:

Infinitive: å rekke
Present: rekker
Preterite: rakk
Past participle: har rukket Examples: Vi rekker det. / Vi rakk ikke toget. / Har du rukket å spise?

Why is it toget and not et tog?

Norwegian typically uses the definite form when the specific thing is known from context, like the scheduled train you’re trying to catch. tog is neuter:

Indefinite singular: et tog
Definite singular: toget
Indefinite plural: tog
Definite plural: togene

Where does nå go in the sentence? Can I move it?

Time adverbs are often placed at the end, so ... toget nå is very natural. You can also front it for emphasis or context:

Nå er det umulig å rekke toget. Both are correct; the end position is more neutral here.

Is Det er ikke mulig å rekke toget nå the same as Det er umulig ...?

Yes, they communicate the same idea. umulig is a bit more compact and slightly stronger in tone; ikke mulig is equally correct and common.

What are other natural ways to express this?

Vi rekker ikke toget nå. (We won’t make the train now.)
Det går ikke an å rekke toget nå. (It isn’t possible to make the train now.)
Vi kommer ikke til å rekke toget. (We’re not going to make the train.)
Softer/hedged: Det blir vanskelig å rekke toget nå.

What is å doing in å rekke? How is it different from og?

å is the infinitive marker (to), used before verbs: å rekke, å spise. og means and and connects words/phrases. Don’t mix them up in writing; they sound similar in some dialects but have different functions.

Any quick pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Det er: the t is often light; think deh ehr.
umulig: g is silent; say oo-MU-lee (Norwegian u is like a rounded ee).
å: like a long oh.
rekke: short e, double k makes the vowel short: REK-keh.
toget: TOH-get (g pronounced).
nå: noh (long, rounded). Put main stress on umulig, rekke, toget, nå.

What does the double consonant in rekke tell me?

Double consonants signal a short preceding vowel. rekke has a short e. With a single k (reke), the e is long and the word means shrimp. So rekke and reke are different words and sounds.

Could I use nå vs snart or akkurat nå here?

nå = now, at this moment (fits the sentence).
akkurat nå = right now, emphasizing immediacy: Det er umulig å rekke toget akkurat nå.
snart = soon, not appropriate here unless you change meaning.

How would I negate differently with ikke?

With the expletive pattern: Det er ikke mulig å rekke toget nå.
With a personal subject: Vi rekker ikke toget nå. Note that Det er ikke umulig ... flips the meaning to it is not impossible.

Can I drop Det and start with the verb phrase?

Not in this structure. Det is required as a dummy subject. A marked alternative is to front the infinitive phrase: Å rekke toget nå er umulig, which is grammatical but more formal/emphatic.

Is umulig related to mulig?

Yes. mulig = possible; u- is a negating prefix, so umulig = impossible. Similar pairs: komfortabel/ukomfortabel, vanlig/uvanlig.

Is this Bokmål or Nynorsk? Any differences I should notice?

This is Bokmål. In Nynorsk, some words change, e.g., umulig becomes umogleg and nå (now) is no. The overall structure with Det er ... å ... is still normal.