Vi kan ikke kjøre videre hvis bremsene ikke virker.

Because kan is a modal verb. In Norwegian, modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive, not å + infinitive.

• Vi kan kjøre = We can drive
• not Vi kan å kjøre

This is similar to English, where we say can drive, not can to drive.

In a main clause, Norwegian usually places ikke after the finite verb.

Here, the finite verb is kan, so the normal order is:

• Vi kan ikke kjøre videre

This is a standard Norwegian word-order pattern:

• subject + finite verb + ikke
  • rest

Because hvis bremsene ikke virker is a subordinate clause, introduced by hvis.

In subordinate clauses, ikke usually comes before the finite verb.

So:

• main clause: Vi kan ikke kjøre videre
• subordinate clause: hvis bremsene ikke virker

This difference in word order is very important in Norwegian.

Because each clause is being negated separately.

• Vi kan ikke kjøre videre = we cannot continue driving
• hvis bremsene ikke virker = if the brakes do not work

If you removed one of them, the meaning would change. So the two ikke words are not redundant; each one belongs to its own clause.

Videre means something like further, on, or any further.

In this sentence, kjøre videre means:

• continue driving
• drive on
• go any farther

It adds the idea of continuing, not just driving in general.

Bremsene is the definite plural form of en brems.

The forms are:

• en brems = a brake
• bremsen = the brake
• bremser = brakes
• bremsene = the brakes

In this sentence, Norwegian uses the definite form because it means the specific brakes on the vehicle, not brakes in general.

Good question. Å virke can mean different things depending on context.

Common meanings include:

• seem
• work / function
• have an effect

Here it means work or function:

• bremsene virker ikke = the brakes do not work

For machines, systems, and parts of vehicles, virke is very natural Norwegian.

Yes, you could say hvis bremsene ikke fungerer.

Both are possible, but there is a slight nuance:

• virker is very common and natural for whether something works
• fungerer is also correct, but can sound a little more formal or technical in some contexts

For brakes, virker sounds completely normal.

Yes. You can say:

• Hvis bremsene ikke virker, kan vi ikke kjøre videre.

That is also completely correct.

Notice what happens in the main clause after the subordinate clause:

• kan vi ikke
  not
• vi kan ikke

This is because Norwegian uses inversion when a sentence starts with something other than the subject.

Both can mean if.

• hvis is the most common everyday word
• dersom is a bit more formal or written

So in ordinary speech, hvis is usually the most natural choice.

This word can be tricky for English speakers.

A rough guide:

• kj is a soft sound, somewhat like a very light hy sound for many learners
• ø is a rounded vowel that does not exist in English
• re at the end is usually light

A very rough approximation is:

• HYUR-eh or SHUR-eh, depending on accent and how simplified the explanation is

But neither is exact. The hardest part is the vowel ø.

If you want to get closer:

1. Say e as in her
2. Round your lips while saying it

That gets you closer to ø.

Yes. It sounds natural and idiomatic.

It is the kind of sentence you might say:

• in a driving context
• when discussing vehicle safety
• when explaining why you must stop

Nothing in the sentence sounds strange or overly formal.