Questions & Answers about De vinner loppet genom att öka farten.
How does genom att translate to 'by increasing' here?
In English, we use 'by' plus an '-ing' word to show how something is done. Swedish does not have this form. Instead, it uses genom (through) plus the infinitive marker att (to) followed by the infinitive verb. So genom att öka literally translates as 'through to increase', meaning 'by increasing'.
Could I just say genom öka without att?
No, Swedish grammar strictly requires the infinitive marker att when a verb follows a preposition like genom or utan. You must use the full phrase genom att before the infinitive verb öka.
Why do we use the definite forms loppet and farten in this sentence?
They refer to a specific race and the specific speed of the competitors. Ett lopp is an ett-word, so it takes the -et ending to become loppet. En fart is an en-word, so it takes the -en ending to become farten.
What kind of race does loppet usually refer to?
The noun ett lopp usually refers to a race that involves moving along a physical course, such as a running race, a ski race, or a car race. It is related to the verb att löpa, which means to run.