Breakdown of Att respektera gränser är viktigt.
vara
to be
att
to
viktig
important
respektera
to respect
gränsen
the boundary
Questions & Answers about Att respektera gränser är viktigt.
The current lesson is about ens (one's). How would I say "To respect one's boundaries is important"?
You would insert ens right before the noun: Att respektera ens gränser är viktigt. Since there is no specific subject doing the action in this sentence, we use the generic possessive ens to mean "a person's" or "one's" boundaries.
Why is the adjective spelled viktigt with a -t at the end?
The adjective viktigt is describing the entire action of the sentence (Att respektera gränser). In Swedish, when an infinitive phrase (an action starting with att) is the subject, it behaves grammatically like an ett-word. Therefore, the adjective must take the neuter -t ending.
In English, we usually say "Respecting boundaries" here. Can I use a similar form in Swedish?
No, Swedish doesn't use words ending in "-ing" (gerunds) as subjects the way English does. Instead, you almost always use the infinitive marker att plus the verb (Att respektera) when an action is the subject of the sentence.
What is the singular form of gränser?
The singular is en gräns (a boundary or limit). Because it is an en-word, it takes the very common -er ending to become the plural gränser.
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