Breakdown of Vi samlas för att hålla kontakten.
vi
we
att
to
för
for, to
hålla
to hold / to hold on to
kontakten
the contact
samlas
to gather
Questions & Answers about Vi samlas för att hålla kontakten.
Why does samlas end in an -s?
This is an s-verb! The base verb is samla, which means "to collect" or "to gather" things. Adding the -s makes it reciprocal, meaning the action is done together with others. Here, Vi samlas means "We gather together" rather than collecting objects.
Is samlas in the present tense? It looks exactly like the infinitive.
Yes, it is in the present tense! For Group 1 verbs like samla, the normal present tense is samlar. To make the s-form in the present tense, you drop the -r and add -s, making it samlas. The infinitive of this s-verb is also samlas, so they happen to look exactly the same.
Why do we need för before att hålla?
You need för att here because it translates to "in order to." If you just used att, it would only mean "to." Whenever you want to express the purpose of an action (the reason why you are gathering), you must use the full phrase för att.
Why does Swedish use the definite form kontakten here?
The phrase hålla kontakten is a fixed expression in Swedish for "keeping in touch." While in English we leave out "the" and just say "keep in touch," Swedish literally says "hold the contact." That is why it uses the definite -en ending.
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