Questions & Answers about Vandringen var lång men rolig.
Why is it vandringen and not vandring?
Vandringen is the definite singular form of vandring.
- vandring = a hike / hiking trip
- vandringen = the hike
In Swedish, the definite article is often added as an ending to the noun rather than written as a separate word. For many en-words, that ending is -en.
So:
- en vandring = a hike
- vandringen = the hike
What gender is vandring, and does that matter here?
Vandring is an en-word (also called common gender).
You can tell because the indefinite form is:
- en vandring
This matters because Swedish adjectives often agree with the noun in gender and number. In this sentence, the adjectives are used after var, so they stay in the form used with a singular en-word:
- lång
- rolig
Compare:
- en vandring är lång
- ett lopp är långt
So yes, the gender matters for adjective form.
Why is var used instead of är?