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Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt, må vi kjøpe en ny i morgen.

Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt, må vi kjøpe en ny i morgen.
If the extension cord gets damaged, we have to buy a new one tomorrow.

Breakdown of Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt, må vi kjøpe en ny i morgen.

en
a
vi
we
kjøpe
to buy
i morgen
tomorrow
ny
new
hvis
if
måtte
have to
forlengelseskabelen
the extension cord
bli ødelagt
to get damaged
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Questions & Answers about Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt, må vi kjøpe en ny i morgen.

Why is there a comma after Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt?

Because the sentence starts with a dependent clause (a conditional clause). In Norwegian, when a subordinate clause comes first, it’s normally followed by a comma, then the main clause:

  • Hvis …, må vi … This is the same logic as English: If …, we must … (comma optional in English but standard in Norwegian writing here).
What does Hvis do to the word order in its clause?

Hvis introduces a subordinate clause, and subordinate clauses typically keep “normal” order: subject before the finite verb. So you get:

  • Hvis forlengelseskabelen blir ødelagt (subject forlengelseskabelen
    • verb blir) You would not invert to blir forlengelseskabelen inside the hvis-clause.
Why is the main clause må vi kjøpe … and not vi må kjøpe …?

Because Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in position 2. When something other than the subject comes first (here, the whole Hvis … clause), the verb must come next, and the subject moves after it:

  • Fronted element: Hvis …
  • Verb (2nd position): må
  • Subject: vi So Hvis …, må vi kjøpe … is correct.
What exactly does blir ødelagt mean grammatically?

blir ødelagt is a passive-like construction:

  • blir = becomes/gets (present tense of bli)
  • ødelagt = past participle/adjectival form meaning broken/damaged Together it means gets broken / is damaged. It focuses on the result/state, and it doesn’t say who caused the damage.
Could I say er ødelagt instead of blir ødelagt?

Yes, but the meaning shifts slightly:

  • er ødelagt = is (already) broken (state)
  • blir ødelagt = gets broken (event/change into that state) In a condition, Hvis … blir ødelagt often implies “if it gets broken (at some point).”
Why is it forlengelseskabelen and not en forlengelseskabel?

forlengelseskabelen is the definite form: the extension cord.

  • en forlengelseskabel = an extension cord
  • forlengelseskabelen = the extension cord Norwegian often uses the definite form when referring to a specific known item (contextually “the one we have”).
How is the long word forlengelseskabelen built?

It’s a compound noun:

  • forlengelse = extension
  • kabel = cable/cord
  • -en = definite ending (common gender) So literally: the extension-cable → the extension cord. Compounds are very common in Norwegian.
Why does it say en ny and not en ny kabel?

Norwegian often omits the noun when it’s obvious from context. en ny here means a new one (i.e., a new extension cord). It’s an elliptical phrase:

  • kjøpe en ny (forlengelseskabel)
Why is it en ny and not ei ny?
forlengelseskabel is typically treated as common gender (en-word), so en ny matches it. Some dialects/writing systems also use feminine ei for certain nouns, but kabel is normally common gender in standard usage.
What is the function of må here?

må is a modal verb meaning must / have to. It expresses necessity/obligation:

  • må vi kjøpe = we have to buy Like English modals, it’s followed by the infinitive (kjøpe) without å.
Where can i morgen go, and why is it at the end?

i morgen is a time adverbial, and placing it at the end is very common and neutral:

  • …, må vi kjøpe en ny i morgen. You could also place it earlier for emphasis:
  • …, må vi i morgen kjøpe en ny. But end-position is usually the most natural in everyday Norwegian.
How is this sentence pronounced, especially the tricky parts?

A few common points learners ask about:

  • Hvis: often sounds like viss (the h is silent for many speakers).
  • blir: the r may be tapped/rolled depending on dialect; vowel is like bleer (roughly).
  • ø in ødelagt: a rounded vowel not in English; similar to German ö.
  • Stress: compounds usually have primary stress early: FOR-leng-else-kabel-en (stress can vary by dialect, but it tends to fall toward the start of the compound).