Breakdown of Nu slappnar vi av på mattorna.
vi
we
nu
now
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
mattan
the rug
slappna av
to relax
Questions & Answers about Nu slappnar vi av på mattorna.
Why is the word order slappnar vi instead of vi slappnar?
Because the sentence starts with the time word Nu (Now). Swedish uses the V2 rule, meaning the conjugated verb must be the second block of information. To keep slappnar in the second spot, the subject vi swaps places with it.
What is av doing in this sentence?
It is part of the particle verb att slappna av, which means "to relax". In a main clause, the verb (slappnar) moves to the second position, while the particle (av) comes later in the sentence, right after the subject.
Since we are learning about verbs ending in "-s" (like trivs or andas), why doesn't slappnar have an "-s"?
While many verbs about body states or feelings are "deponent" verbs that always end in "-s", att slappna av is a regular verb. It doesn't need an "-s" to show active meaning, which is why it uses the standard present tense -r ending.
How do we get the form mattorna?
The base noun is en matta (a mat or rug). Because it is an "en" word ending in "-a", the plural form is mattor (mats). To make it definite ("the mats"), we add the plural definite suffix -na, resulting in mattorna.
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