Breakdown of Att bara lita på talang fungerar sällan.
att
to
sällan
rarely
bara
only, just
fungera
to work / to function (machines, devices) / to act as, serve as
lita på
to trust
talangen
the talent
Questions & Answers about Att bara lita på talang fungerar sällan.
How does the V2 (verb-second) rule work here if there are so many words before the verb fungerar?
In Swedish, the V2 rule dictates that the main verb must sit in the second position of the sentence. However, "position one" doesn't just mean one word; it can be an entire phrase. Here, the whole infinitive clause Att bara lita på talang acts as a single block that forms the subject (position one). Therefore, the main verb fungerar correctly takes position two right after it.
Why is the adverb bara placed between Att and lita? Doesn't the adverb usually go after the verb?
In a standard main clause, sentence adverbs like bara (only) or inte (not) do go after the verb (e.g., Jag litar bara på...). However, in an infinitive clause like this one, the rule changes: sentence adverbs are placed before the infinitive verb. That is why it is Att bara lita instead of Att lita bara.
Could I use arbetar or jobbar instead of fungerar for the word "works"?
No, because they mean different types of "working." Arbetar and jobbar are used when someone is performing labor or doing a job. When you want to say that an idea, a machine, or a strategy is effective or functions correctly, you must use fungerar.
Do I always need to use på with lita?
Yes, when you are stating who or what you are trusting or relying on, you need the preposition på. The verb lita and the preposition på function together as a phrasal verb meaning "to rely on" or "to trust in."
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