Question 1

Why does the verb bygger come after three words if Swedish has a V2 (verb-second) rule?

Accepted Answer

The V2 rule means the verb comes in the second position or block of information, not necessarily the second literal word. Here, the entire infinitive phrase Att träna dagligen (To practice daily) acts as a single block: the subject. Therefore, the verb bygger is correctly placed in the second position right after it.

Question 2

Can I separate bygger upp and put the object in the middle, like 'builds your discipline up' in English?

Accepted Answer

No, Swedish keeps the verb and its particle together much more strictly than English does. You should keep the phrasal verb bygger upp (builds up) together as a single unit right before the object din disciplin.

Question 3

How does the word dagligen get its meaning from dag (day)?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -ligen works a lot like the English suffix '-ly'. It turns the noun dag (day) into the adverb dagligen (daily). You will see this suffix on many other adverbs, like verkligen (really) or antagligen (probably).

Question 4

If I wanted to refer back to the action of Att träna dagligen in a follow-up sentence, would I use den or det?

Accepted Answer

You would use det. In Swedish, when an action or an entire phrase (like an infinitive clause) is the subject, it is always treated as neuter (an ett-word). For example: 'Att träna dagligen är bra. Det bygger upp din disciplin.' (To practice daily is good. It builds up your discipline.)

Att träna dagligen bygger upp din disciplin.

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