Breakdown of Den lilla flickan är yngst, men katten är ännu yngre.
vara
to be
katten
the cat
flickan
the girl
men
but
den
the (with en-words)
ung
young
ännu
yet / even (with comparative)
liten
small
Questions & Answers about Den lilla flickan är yngst, men katten är ännu yngre.
Where do the words yngre and yngst come from?
They are the comparative (younger) and superlative (youngest) forms of the adjective ung (young). Notice how the vowel changes from u to y. Words that change their stem vowel like this also take the shorter endings -re and -st instead of the regular -are and -ast.
How does the word ännu work with yngre here?
The word ännu usually means still or yet, but when you put it in front of a comparative adjective like yngre, it translates to even. So, ännu yngre means even younger.
Why is it Den lilla flickan instead of just Den lilla flicka?
This is a reminder of the Swedish double definite rule. When you have a specific noun with an adjective, you need the independent article (Den), the definite form of the adjective (lilla), AND the definite form of the noun with its suffix (flickan).
Why is it just är yngst and not är den yngsta?
Because yngst is standing alone after the verb är (is) to describe the subject. When superlatives are used this way, they usually take the short, indefinite form. You would use the definite form den yngsta if it came directly before a noun, like in den yngsta flickan (the youngest girl).
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