Breakdown of Har tränaren sagt åt dig att slappna av?
ha
to have
att
to
dig
you (singular)
slappna av
to relax
tränaren
the trainer
säga åt
to tell (to do)
Questions & Answers about Har tränaren sagt åt dig att slappna av?
Why is it sagt åt dig and not just sagt dig?
The phrasal verb säga åt means to tell someone to do something or to give an order. If you just used sagt, it would mean the trainer simply told you a piece of information. When reporting a command or request, Swedish uses säga åt followed by the object (dig) and att plus the infinitive.
Why is att used before slappna av?
It links the command to the action. When you use an indirect command structure, the reporting verb phrase is followed by an object and then att plus the infinitive verb. It works exactly like the word to in the English phrase told you to relax.
Can I just say slappna instead of slappna av?
No, you need the full phrasal verb slappna av to mean to relax or to unwind. The particle av is essential to the meaning here.
Does tränaren only mean a personal trainer at a gym?
Not necessarily. While it can mean a gym trainer, tränaren is also the standard Swedish word for the coach of any sports team.
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