Breakdown of Han är inte rädd för ensamheten.
vara
to be
han
he
inte
not
rädd för
afraid of
ensamheten
the loneliness
Questions & Answers about Han är inte rädd för ensamheten.
How is the word ensamheten built?
Why does Swedish use the definite form ensamheten when English just says 'loneliness'?
In Swedish, abstract nouns like loneliness, love, or life usually take the definite form when you are talking about them as a general concept. Because of this rule, general loneliness becomes ensamheten (literally 'the loneliness').
Why is the preposition för used here instead of a literal translation for 'of'?
The adjective rädd (afraid or scared) almost always pairs with the preposition för. Prepositions rarely translate word-for-word between English and Swedish, so it is highly recommended to learn the combination rädd för (afraid of) as a single chunk.
If the sentence was about multiple people, would rädd change?
Yes. If the subject was plural, like de (they), the adjective would take its plural ending and become rädda. Since han (he) is a single person, the adjective uses its basic singular form rädd.
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