Breakdown of Det gamla bordet är i bra skick.
vara
to be
bordet
the table
bra
good / well
i
in
gammal
old
det
the (with ett-words)
skicket
the condition
Questions & Answers about Det gamla bordet är i bra skick.
Why does the adjective become gamla instead of just adding an -a to make gammala?
The root word is gammal (old). When an adjective ends in an unstressed syllable like -al, -el, -er, or -en, it usually drops that final vowel when adding the -a for definite or plural forms. So, gammal drops its second 'a'. It also drops one 'm' to become gamla, which makes it much easier to pronounce!
We have det (the) and bordet (the table). Why does the adjective also need a definite ending?
This is a great time to review the Swedish double definite rule. When you describe a specific noun with an adjective, you need three pieces: the freestanding article (det), the adjective ending in -a (gamla), and the definite suffix on the noun itself (bordet).
Since skick is an ett-word, shouldn't the adjective be brat instead of bra?
Normally, adjectives take a -t ending when describing an ett-word. However, bra (good) is a very common exception. It never changes its form. It stays bra for en-words, ett-words, and plurals.
Can I use i bra skick to say a person is in good condition?
No, skick is used for the physical state of things, like furniture, houses, or cars. If you want to talk about a person being in good physical condition or shape, you would use form, as in i bra form.
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