Breakdown of Att kombinera allt är svårt eftersom tidsbristen är stor.
vara
to be
stor
big
att
to
svår
difficult
allt
everything / all (neuter)
eftersom
since, because
kombinera
to combine
tidsbristen
the lack of time
Questions & Answers about Att kombinera allt är svårt eftersom tidsbristen är stor.
Why is svårt in its t-form here instead of svår?
The adjective svårt describes the whole action Att kombinera allt (Combining everything). When an infinitive phrase acts as the subject of a sentence, Swedish treats it as a neuter concept (like an ett word), so the adjective must take the neuter -t ending.
How is the word tidsbristen formed?
It is a compound noun made of tid (time) and brist (lack or shortage). The -s- in the middle is a common linking letter used to glue nouns together, and the -en at the end makes it definite. Literally, it means the time-lack.
Why doesn't the verb come directly after eftersom? Doesn't Swedish have a strict verb-second (V2) rule?
The V2 rule applies to main clauses. The word eftersom (because) introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause. In subordinate clauses, the normal word order is subject first, then the verb. Here, the subject tidsbristen correctly comes right before the verb är.
How would I use the lesson's focus words dels ..., dels ... to add another reason to this sentence?
You could use them to list two equal reasons! For example: Att kombinera allt är svårt, dels eftersom tidsbristen är stor, dels eftersom det är dyrt (Combining everything is difficult, partly because the lack of time is great, partly because it is expensive).
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