Breakdown of De är rädda för att konsekvensen blir för stor om de chansar.
vara
to be
de
they
stor
big
bli
to become
att
that
om
if, whether
för
too
rädd för
afraid of
chansa
take a chance
konsekvensen
the consequence
Questions & Answers about De är rädda för att konsekvensen blir för stor om de chansar.
Why is the preposition för used right before att?
In Swedish, if an expression normally uses a specific preposition, it keeps that preposition even when an att-clause follows. Since you say rädd för (afraid of) before a noun, you must say rädd för att before a clause. You can not just drop the preposition like we do in English!
Why is the word rädda used instead of rädd?
Rädd is an adjective and must agree with the subject it describes. Because the subject is the plural De (they), the adjective takes the plural -a ending to become rädda.
The word för appears twice. Does it mean the same thing both times?
No, they do two completely different jobs here. The first för is a preposition linked to the adjective (rädda för means afraid of). The second för is an adverb that means 'too,' placed in front of stor to mean 'too big'.
Why does the sentence use blir instead of kommer att vara for 'will be'?
While blir literally means 'becomes,' it is the most natural verb to use in Swedish when talking about a future result or a state that changes because of an action. If they take a chance, the consequence 'becomes' too big.
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