Questions & Answers about Det regnade mer än när vi var i huvudstaden.
Why do we use än in this sentence instead of som?
Because we are making an unequal comparison using mer (more). You use än (than) for unequal comparisons. If the amount of rain was the same, you would use the equative form taught in this lesson: lika mycket som (as much as).
What is the base word for mer?
Mer is the comparative form of mycket (much or a lot). You use mer when you want to say more of an uncountable action or mass noun, like the rain here.
How do you break down the word huvudstaden?
It is a compound word made from huvud (head or main) and stad (city). The -en at the end makes it a definite noun, so huvudstaden translates directly to the head city, which is how you say the capital.
Why do we need det at the start of the sentence?
Just like in English, Swedish requires a dummy subject for weather expressions. You must use det (it) to say det regnade (it rained), even though det doesn't refer to a specific physical object.