Breakdown of De förklarade att grälet handlade om en hemlighet.
en
a, an (common)
de
they
förklara
to explain
att
that
hemligheten
the secret
handla om
to be about
grälet
the argument
Questions & Answers about De förklarade att grälet handlade om en hemlighet.
Why is the verb handlade in the past tense?
This is a rule in indirect speech. If the reporting verb is in the past tense (förklarade), the verb in the subordinate clause usually shifts to the past tense too. The original direct quote was probably in the present tense (Grälet handlar om...), but it shifts to handlade to match the main sentence.
Doesn't handla usually mean to shop?
Yes! By itself, handla often means to shop for groceries. However, when you add the preposition om, the phrasal verb handla om means to be about. This is a very common expression in Swedish.
Can I leave out the word att like we often leave out the word that in English?
Yes, just like in English, you can often drop att in everyday spoken Swedish. However, keeping att makes the sentence structure clearer, especially in written text.
What is the base form of grälet?
The base form is ett gräl, which means an argument or a quarrel. Because it is an ett word, adding the definite suffix makes it grälet (the argument).
Where would I put the word inte if the argument was NOT about a secret?
Because the part after att is a subordinate clause, inte must come before the verb. You would say: De förklarade att grälet inte handlade om en hemlighet.
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