Breakdown of Det är ett problem att dokumentet inte är klart.
vara
to be
ett
a, an (neuter)
det
it (neuter)
inte
not
problemet
the problem
att
that
klar
ready / finished (doing something)
dokumentet
the document
Questions & Answers about Det är ett problem att dokumentet inte är klart.
Why is inte placed before the verb är in this sentence?
This is the BIFF rule in action! While inte usually comes after the verb in a main clause, the second half of this sentence is a subordinate clause starting with att (that). In a subordinate clause, inte must come before the conjugated verb.
How can I easily tell that att dokumentet inte är klart is a subordinate clause?
The biggest clue is the word att (that). Words like att, eftersom (because), and om (if) are used to link a supporting idea to the main sentence. The clause they introduce cannot stand alone as a complete thought, which makes it a subordinate clause.
Why does the adjective klart end with a T?
Adjectives in Swedish change to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because dokument is an ett-word (ett dokument), the adjective klar (ready) needs an extra T at the end to match it.
Why is it dokumentet instead of just dokument?
The -et at the end of the word is the definite suffix, which means 'the'. Since it is an ett-word, attaching -et to the end turns dokument (document) into dokumentet (the document).
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