Breakdown of De här handskrifterna är bundna i skinn.
vara
to be
i
in
de här
these
handskriften
the manuscript
skinnet
the leather (soft, hide)
binda
to bind
Questions & Answers about De här handskrifterna är bundna i skinn.
Why is the form bundna used here instead of bunden?
bundna is the plural past participle of the Group 4 strong verb binda (to bind). Because it acts like an adjective describing the plural subject handskrifterna (the manuscripts), it must take the plural ending. For Group 4 verbs, the plural past participle ending is -na.
What is the base verb for bundna, and how does it relate to the supine form?
The infinitive is binda. As a Group 4 strong verb, its supine form (used after har) is bundit. To create the past participles, the -it ending changes to -en for en-words, -et for ett-words, and -na for plurals. This is why we use bundna here.
Can I use the supine form bundit instead of bundna in this sentence?
No, because the verb är (are) tells us we are describing the current state of the manuscripts. When describing a state with the verb to be, you must use the past participle (bundna) which functions as an adjective. You would only use the supine bundit after the verb har (have), like in: Någon har bundit dem (Someone has bound them).
Why does handskrifterna have the definite ending -erna if the English translation is just "these manuscripts"?
In Swedish, demonstrative phrases like de här (these) and den här (this) must always be followed by a noun in its definite form. Even though it translates literally as "these the manuscripts", it is the required grammatical structure in Swedish.
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