Questions & Answers about Han minns alla övningarna från igår.
Why does minns end in an -s? Is it a passive verb?
No, it is not passive. The verb minns is a deponent verb, which means it always ends in -s but has an active meaning. Here, it means "remembers". Its dictionary or infinitive form is minnas (to remember).
Since minns is in the present tense, why doesn't it end in -r like most verbs?
Deponent verbs never take the standard -r present tense ending. Because the infinitive minnas ends in -s, you just drop the -a to get the present tense form minns.
Why does the sentence use the definite form övningarna (the exercises) after alla?
When you want to say "all of the" referring to a specific group (like the specific exercises from yesterday), you use alla followed by the definite plural noun. If you used the indefinite form alla övningar, it would mean "all exercises" in general, everywhere in the world.
How do you build the word övningarna from the base word?
It starts with the singular noun en övning (an exercise). You add the plural ending -ar to make övningar (exercises). Then, you add the definite plural ending -na to get övningarna (the exercises).