Breakdown of Det är mitt enda problem.
vara
to be
problemet
the problem
min
my (min/mitt/mina)
enda
only, sole
Questions & Answers about Det är mitt enda problem.
Why does enda end in an -a here? Shouldn't an adjective get a -t ending to match the ett word problem?
You are right that adjectives normally take a -t ending with ett words (for example, ett stort problem). However, enda (which means 'only') is a special exception. It never changes its form. It always ends in -a, no matter the gender or number of the noun it describes.
Why is it mitt and not min?
The noun problem is an ett word (ett problem). In Swedish, possessive words like 'my' have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because it is an ett word, you must use mitt instead of the en word form min.
If I am talking about my specific problem, why isn't the noun in the definite form (problemet)?
In Swedish, whenever you use a possessive word like mitt (my) or din (your), the noun that follows must be in its indefinite form. The possessive word already does the job of pointing out exactly which problem it is. So, it is always mitt enda problem and never mitt enda problemet.
How would I change this sentence to say 'These are my only problems' in the plural?
You would say Det är mina enda problem. The word problem is an ett word that ends in a consonant, which means its plural form is exactly the same as its singular form. Enda never changes. The only word that changes to show plural is the possessive, which becomes mina. (As a bonus tip, det är is also used to mean 'these are' when pointing things out).
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