Breakdown of Han påstår att källan är hemlig.
vara
to be
han
he
att
that
påstå
to claim
källan
the source
hemlig
secret
Questions & Answers about Han påstår att källan är hemlig.
Why do we need the word att here? Can I skip it like in English?
In this sentence, att means "that" and introduces a subordinate clause. While in English you can often drop "that" and just say "He claims the source is secret", in Swedish you should generally keep att. It acts as a clear bridge connecting the main idea to the secondary clause.
The verb påstår looks like it is made of two different words. Is it?
Yes! Påstår is built from the preposition på (on) and the verb står (stands). When combined, påstå means "to claim" or "to state". Swedish frequently creates new verbs this way, where the literal pieces combine to form a new meaning.
How do we know källan means "the source" and not just "a source"?
The basic dictionary word is en källa (a source). Because it is an en-word that ends in a vowel, you make it definite by just adding -n to the end. That creates källan, which means "the source".
Why is the adjective hemlig used here instead of hemligt?
Adjectives in Swedish must match the noun they are describing. Because källan is a singular en-word, the adjective stays in its basic form, hemlig. If the noun were a singular ett-word, you would need to add a T to make it hemligt.
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