Grunnen er at vi ikke rekker bussen.

to be

Breakdown of Grunnen er at vi ikke rekker bussen.

• vi: we
• at: that
• ikke: not

Questions & Answers about Grunnen er at vi ikke rekker bussen.

What exactly does the verb rekker mean here?

It means “to make it in time / to catch.” With transport it’s the standard verb for making a departure.

• Example: Vi rekker bussen. = We’ll make/catch the bus.
• It can also mean “have time (to do something),” e.g., Rekker du å spise? = Do you have time to eat?
• For physically “reach” a thing/place, Norwegian typically uses å nå (e.g., Jeg når ikke hylla = I can’t reach the shelf).

Why is ikke placed before rekker in …at vi ikke rekker bussen?

Because it’s a subordinate clause introduced by at. In subordinate clauses, the normal order is Subject – adverb (like ikke) – finite verb:

• Subordinate: Jeg tror at vi ikke rekker bussen.
• Main clause (V2 rule): Vi rekker ikke bussen.

Can I say Grunnen er fordi …?

No. Use either:

• Grunnen er at … (The reason is that …), or
• Det er fordi … (It’s because …) but not both together. Grunnen er fordi … is considered wrong/awkward in standard Norwegian.

Why is it bussen and not buss?