Questions & Answers about Kvällarna är kalla i staden.
How exactly do we build the word kvällarna?
The root word is en kväll (an evening). First, we make it plural by adding -ar to get kvällar (evenings). Then, to make it definite plural (the evenings), we add the suffix -na to that plural form, giving us kvällarna.
Why is there an -a at the end of kalla?
In Swedish, adjectives must match the noun they describe. Because kvällarna (the evenings) is plural, the basic adjective kall (cold) must take the plural ending -a, becoming kalla.
Why does staden end in -en instead of -na like kvällarna?
Kvällarna is plural (the evenings), but staden is singular (the city). The base word is en stad. To make an en-word definite singular (the city), you just add -en to the end. If the sentence were about multiple cities, it would be städerna.
Is staden the only way to say "the city"? I sometimes hear people say "stan".