Breakdown of Vi har svært ved at løse gåden.
vi
we
løse
to solve
have svært ved at
to have difficulty
gåden
the riddle
Questions & Answers about Vi har svært ved at løse gåden.
Why do we use the preposition ved after svært here?
In Danish, the standard phrase for "having a hard time doing something" is at have svært ved noget. When you follow it with a verb, you must use ved at plus the infinitive (at løse). English uses a gerund ("solving"), but Danish always uses the infinitive after a preposition.
Why is it svært with a "t" instead of the plural svære to match vi?
In the expression at have svært ved, the word svært isn't an adjective describing the subject (vi). It acts as an adverbial or abstract neuter concept describing the situation itself. Therefore, it always takes the -t ending regardless of who is struggling.
Can I translate "have a hard time" directly as har en hård tid?
No, that would mean something completely different. At have en hård tid implies you are going through a difficult or emotional period in your life. When you are just struggling to complete a specific task or puzzle, you must use at have svært ved.
What kind of things can you løse in Danish?
While it translates to "solve" in this context, at løse literally means "to loosen" or "to untie" (like a knot). In Danish, you figuratively "untie" abstract challenges, which is why it is the standard verb for solving a riddle (en gåde), a problem (et problem), or a task (en opgave).