Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Det er mulig å komme tidlig; vi bestiller billetter på forhånd. - It is possible to arrive early; we order tickets in advance.

Norwegian needs a dummy subject in impersonal statements. The pattern is Det er + adjective + å + infinitive, e.g., Det er mulig å komme tidlig. Det doesn’t refer to anything specific; it just fills the subject slot.

What is the function of å before komme?

Å is the infinitive marker (like English “to” in “to come”). So å komme = “to come.”

Can I say Vi kan komme tidlig instead of Det er mulig å komme tidlig?

Yes. Vi kan komme tidlig is more direct and natural in everyday speech. Det er mulig å ... sounds a bit more neutral/impersonal. Both are correct.

What’s the difference between Det er mulig å ..., Det går an å ..., Man kan ..., and Det lar seg gjøre å ...?

Det er mulig å ...: neutral, slightly formal.
Det går an å ...: informal/colloquial “it’s doable.”
Man kan ...: “one can/you can” (generic subject).
Det lar seg gjøre å ...: more formal, “it can be done.”

Why is it tidlig and not tidligere?

Tidlig = “early.” Tidligere = “earlier” (comparative). Use tidligere only when comparing (earlier than something/someone).

Should I use komme or ankomme?

Both can work, but komme is more common in everyday speech. Ankomme is formal/literary and often used for scheduled arrivals (trains, flights), e.g., Toget ankommer tidlig.

Can I add fram/frem (arrive) as in komme fram tidlig?

Yes: komme fram/frem tidlig is fine and emphasizes reaching the destination. Word order can be komme tidlig fram or komme fram tidlig; both are idiomatic. Spelling fram and frem are both correct (dialect/standard preference).

Is komme tidlig ever awkward or ambiguous?

In isolation it can have a sexual double meaning. In normal contexts like travel/plans it’s understood as “arrive early.” If you want to avoid any ambiguity, add a destination or time: komme tidlig til konserten, komme tidlig i morgen.

Why is there a semicolon between the clauses?

A semicolon links two closely related independent clauses. It suggests a connection (here, likely causal) without using a conjunction. A period would also be fine.

Could I connect the clauses with fordi, siden, or for?

Yes:

Causal subordinator: Det er mulig å komme tidlig fordi/siden vi bestiller billetter på forhånd.
Coordinating conjunction: Det er mulig å komme tidlig, for vi bestiller billetter på forhånd. All are natural; fordi/siden makes the cause explicit.

Why not just a comma instead of a semicolon?

In Norwegian you generally can’t join two independent clauses with only a comma (no comma splice). Use a semicolon, a period, or a conjunction (og, men, eller, for).

Is the word order Vi bestiller billetter på forhånd fixed?

That’s the neutral order: Subject–Verb–Object–Adverbial. You can front the adverbial, but remember the V2 rule:

På forhånd bestiller vi billetter. Moving på forhånd to the front inverts verb and subject.

Why is there no article before billetter?

It’s indefinite plural (“tickets” in general). Forms of billett:

en billett (a ticket)
billetten (the ticket)
billetter (tickets)
billettene (the tickets)

When would I use billettene?

Use billettene when you mean specific, known tickets: Vi har allerede billettene (“we already have the tickets”).

Does bestille mean “order,” “book,” or “buy”?

All of the above depending on context. For tickets, bestille billetter is the standard way to say “book tickets.” Kjøpe billetter focuses on the purchase; reservere billetter is “reserve tickets” (may imply paying later).

Is på forhånd the only way to say “in advance”?

Common options:

på forhånd (very common; also used in Takk på forhånd)
i forveien (equally common)
i forkant (more formal/organizational contexts)

Why the preposition på in på forhånd?

It’s an idiomatic fixed expression. You don’t switch the preposition here; just learn på forhånd as a chunk.

Why is bestiller (present tense) used for a future plan?

Norwegian often uses present for scheduled or planned future: Vi bestiller billetter på forhånd = “We’re going to/We will book in advance.” You can also say Vi skal bestille (intention) or Vi kommer til å bestille (prediction/expectation).

Can vi be generic (“we/you in general”) here?

It could be, but for a generic subject Norwegian more often uses man: Det er mulig å komme tidlig; man bestiller billetter på forhånd. With vi, it usually refers to a specific group that includes the speaker.

What’s the difference between å and og? I see both small words a lot.

å = “to” (infinitive marker): å komme
og = “and” (conjunction): vi bestiller og betaler They’re pronounced differently and not interchangeable.

How can I make the causal link even clearer while keeping the semicolon?

Add an adverb in the second clause: Det er mulig å komme tidlig; derfor bestiller vi billetter på forhånd.