Breakdown of En tredjedel är inte lika mycket som hälften.
vara
to be
en
a, an (common)
mycket
much / very
inte
not
lika
equally / as
som
as (in comparisons)
tredjedelen
the third
hälften
the half
Questions & Answers about En tredjedel är inte lika mycket som hälften.
Why does the sentence use hälften instead of en halv?
Hälften is a noun that means the concept of half or 50 percent of a whole. We use it when talking about general proportions. En halv is an adjective used directly with a noun, like en halv pizza (a half pizza). Since we are comparing general proportions in this sentence, we use hälften.
How exactly is the word tredjedel built, and can I use this pattern for other fractions?
Fractions in Swedish are usually made by combining the ordinal number (the words for first, second, third, etc.) with the word del (part). So tredje (third) + del becomes tredjedel. You can use this pattern for almost all other fractions too, like en fjärdedel (a fourth) or en femtedel (a fifth).
Why do we use mycket in lika mycket som instead of många?
We use lika mycket som (as much as) because we are comparing general, uncountable amounts or proportions. If we were comparing a specific number of individual, countable objects, like apples or cars, we would use lika många som (as many as).
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