Breakdown of Hon vilar på den stora stenen.
hon
she
stor
big
vila
to rest
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
den
the (with en-words)
stenen
the stone
Questions & Answers about Hon vilar på den stora stenen.
Why does it say den stora stenen instead of just den stora sten?
This is the Swedish double definite rule. When a definite noun has an adjective, you have to show that it is definite twice! You use the standalone article den before the adjective, and you also keep the definite suffix -en on the noun. So it literally reads as the big the stone.
Why is there an -a on the end of stora?
Adjectives change their ending based on whether the noun is definite or indefinite. Because we are talking about a specific stone, the adjective stor gets the definite -a ending to become stora.
What clues in this sentence tell us that sten (stone) is an en-word?
There are two big clues. First, we use the standalone article den instead of det. Second, the noun itself takes the en-word definite ending -en, making it stenen.
Does Hon vilar mean she rests or she is resting?
It means both! Swedish does not have a separate ing-form for actions happening right now. You use the exact same present tense verb, vilar, whether she rests every day or is resting right at this moment.
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