Breakdown of Den röda pjäsen är ganska fin.
vara
to be
fin
nice
röd
red
den
the (with en-words)
ganska
quite
pjäsen
the piece
Questions & Answers about Den röda pjäsen är ganska fin.
Does the word ganska ever change its form to match the noun?
No. Because ganska (quite) is a degree adverb modifying the adjective fin, it never changes form. Only adjectives change to match the gender, number, or definiteness of the noun.
How strong is ganska compared to the other adverbs in this lesson?
ganska (quite or fairly) is milder than väldigt (very) or för (too). Calling the piece ganska fin means it is pretty nice, but it isn't amazingly beautiful.
Why is it röda with an -a, but fin without an -a, if they describe the same piece?
They are in different positions in the sentence. röda comes right before the definite noun, so it must take the definite -a ending. But fin comes after the verb är. Adjectives after the verb only match the gender and number of the noun, so it takes the singular en-word form fin.
Why do we say Den röda pjäsen with both Den and the -en ending on the noun?
This is the famous Swedish double definite rule! Whenever you put an adjective in front of a definite noun, you must add the standalone article (Den for en-words) but you also keep the noun's normal definite ending (pjäsen).
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