Breakdown of Tror du att de stora problemen är kvar?
vara
to be
du
you (singular)
stor
big
tro
to believe
problemet
the problem
de
the (plural, before adjective)
att
that
kvar
left (remaining)
Questions & Answers about Tror du att de stora problemen är kvar?
Why do we use tror here instead of tycker or tänker?
We use tror because you are asking about a belief or a guess regarding a fact. If you used tycker, you would be asking for a subjective opinion, like whether they like the problems. Tänker is only used for the active process of thinking or planning to do something.
Why does the phrase for the big problems have both de at the start and -en at the end of problemen?
This is the Swedish double definite rule! When a definite noun has an adjective attached, you need the standalone article de, the adjective must take its -a ending (stora), and the noun itself must still take its definite suffix (problemen).
Since problem is an ett-word, shouldn't its plural just be problem?
Yes, the indefinite plural (problems) of ett problem is just problem. However, in this sentence we need the definite plural (the problems). For ett-words ending in a consonant, the definite plural suffix is -en, which makes it problemen.
How exactly does är kvar translate to remain?
The word kvar means left or remaining. So är kvar literally translates to are left. In English, it is often more natural to translate this simply as remain.
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