Breakdown of Vi är så skakiga idag att vi slipper städa.
vara
to be
vi
we
idag
today
städa
to clean
så
so
att
that
slippa
to not have to
skakig
shaky
Questions & Answers about Vi är så skakiga idag att vi slipper städa.
How does the så ... att structure work in this sentence?
This construction connects an extreme state with its result. Here, the extreme state is så skakiga idag (so shaky today) and the result is att vi slipper städa (that we do not have to clean). Just like in English, så pairs with an adjective or adverb, and att introduces the clause showing what happens as a result.
Why is the adjective skakiga instead of skakig?
Because the subject of the sentence is vi (we), which is plural. In Swedish, an adjective describing a plural subject must also be in its plural form, even when it comes after the verb. Adding an -a to the end of the adjective is the standard way to make it plural.
How exactly does the verb slipper work here?
Slipper comes from the verb att slippa, which is a very handy Swedish word meaning to not have to do something or to get out of doing something. It usually carries a positive feeling of relief. Notice that it works like a helping verb here: it is followed directly by the infinitive verb städa without needing an extra att (to) before it.
Why does the word order stay as vi slipper after att? Doesn't the time word idag force the verb to come first?
No, because idag belongs entirely to the first clause (Vi är så skakiga idag). The word att (that) acts as a bridge starting a brand new subordinate clause. In a subordinate clause, the basic word order is Subject then Verb, which is why it stays as vi slipper.
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