Learn Hardcore Swedish: Det tar tid att skapa en ny vana, men hon ger inte upp. - It takes time to create a new habit, but she does not give up.

In this sentence, det is a dummy subject (also called an expletive). It does not refer to any specific thing; it is just there to fill the subject position, just like it in English It takes time to create a new habit.

You could also say:

Att skapa en ny vana tar tid. – Creating a new habit takes time.

Here, att skapa en ny vana is the subject. Both versions are correct; Det tar tid att … is very common and sounds natural in everyday speech and writing.

What is the function of att in att skapa?

Here att is the infinitive marker, like to in English to create.

skapa = create (bare infinitive)
att skapa = to create

You use att before an infinitive unless:

There is a modal verb like kan, vill, måste, ska directly before it:
- Hon vill skapa en ny vana. – She wants to create a new habit.
  (no att)
There is a small group of other verbs that usually skip att (e.g. låta, se, höra in certain constructions).

But after tar tid, you keep att:

Det tar tid att skapa … – It takes time to create …

Why is it en ny vana and not ett ny vana?

Swedish nouns have two grammatical genders:

en-words (common gender)
ett-words (neuter gender)

The noun vana (habit) is an en-word, so it takes:

indefinite article: en vana – a habit
definite form: vanan – the habit

When you add an adjective like ny (new), the pattern is:

en ny vana – a new habit
den nya vanan – the new habit

Using ett ny vana would be grammatically wrong, because vana is not a neuter noun.

Why is the adjective ny placed before vana in en ny vana?

Adjectives in Swedish normally come before the noun in the indefinite form, similar to English:

en ny vana – a new habit
en gammal bok – an old book
ett stort hus – a big house

When the noun is definite, the structure changes and you add both den/det/de and the definite ending on the noun:

den nya vanan – the new habit
den gamla boken – the old book
det stora huset – the big house

Could I say Att skapa en ny vana tar tid instead of Det tar tid att skapa en ny vana? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can say Att skapa en ny vana tar tid. It is correct and natural.

Difference in feel:

Det tar tid att skapa en ny vana.
Very common and neutral. The det tar tid pattern focuses on the idea that it takes time.
Att skapa en ny vana tar tid.
Slightly more focus on the activity att skapa en ny vana as the topic (the thing you are talking about). It can sound a bit more formal or explanatory, but it is still ordinary Swedish.

In everyday conversation, the Det tar tid att … version is probably more frequent.

What does the verb tar mean here in Det tar tid?

The verb tar is the present tense of ta (to take). In this construction, ta tid means to take time, exactly like in English.

Det tar tid. – It takes time.
Hur lång tid tar det? – How long does it take?
Det tog lång tid. – It took a long time. (past tense tog)

In men hon ger inte upp, why is inte in the middle, between ger and upp?

The verb ge upp is a phrasal verb (literally give up), and in Swedish, phrasal verbs are often split when you add inte:

hon ger upp – she gives up
hon ger inte upp – she does not give up

This pattern is very common:

Han stänger av datorn. – He turns off the computer.
Han stänger inte av datorn. – He does not turn off the computer.

So the usual word order with inte is:

subject + verb + inte + particle (upp, av, på, etc.)

Does ge upp always mean exactly the same as English give up?

Ge upp usually corresponds very closely to English give up, especially in the sense of:

stopping an effort
losing hope
quitting a project or goal

Examples:

Hon ger inte upp. – She does not give up.
Ge inte upp så lätt. – Don’t give up so easily.

It can also be used like English give up in some contexts of surrender:

De gav upp efter några timmar. – They gave up after a few hours.

But if you mean physically surrender in a more formal or military sense, you could also use kapitulera or ge sig depending on the context.

Why is the present tense used (tar, ger) if we are talking about a general truth?

In Swedish, the present tense is used for:

actions happening now
habits and routines
general truths and statements about how things usually are

So:

Det tar tid att skapa en ny vana.
= It generally takes time (for anyone, in general).
Hon ger inte upp.
= She does not give up (as a character trait or ongoing situation).

This use is very similar to English present simple: It takes time, She doesn’t give up.

What is the role of men in …, men hon ger inte upp? Is the comma necessary?

Men means but and introduces a contrast:

Det tar tid att skapa en ny vana, men hon ger inte upp.
= It takes time … but she does not give up.

About the comma:

In Swedish, it is normal and correct to put a comma before men when it starts a new main clause.
You will sometimes see no comma in informal writing, but in standard written Swedish the comma is recommended:
- …, men hon ger inte upp. ✅ (preferred in writing)

Is there a difference between hon ger inte upp and hon slutar inte?

Both can mean that she keeps going, but they are used a bit differently:

hon ger inte upp – she does not give up
Focuses on her determination, not losing hope or motivation.
hon slutar inte – she does not stop
More neutral; just says that the action continues. It does not necessarily express the same emotional nuance of persistence.

In the context of creating a new habit, hon ger inte upp is more idiomatic, because it highlights her perseverance despite it taking time.