Questions & Answers about Slutar de att skriva nu?
Why is there an att before skriva?
att is the infinitive marker, matching the English word to. When an action follows another verb, like slutar here, the second verb usually takes att and stays in its base dictionary form. For most Swedish verbs, this base form ends in an -a.
The translation says writing, but doesn't att skriva mean to write?
Yes, it does! Swedish does not have an -ing verb form like English. Depending on what sounds most natural in English, att skriva can translate as either to write or writing. Literally, this sentence asks Stop they to write now?
Why does the sentence start with Slutar instead of a word for Do?
To ask a yes or no question in Swedish, you simply move the verb to the front of the sentence. Swedish does not use helper words like do or does to ask questions.
How should I pronounce the word de in this sentence?
Even though the word for they is spelled de, native speakers almost always pronounce it as dom in everyday speech.