Breakdown of Kan vi möjligtvis sväva över sjön istället?
vi
we
kunna
to be able to, can
sjön
the lake
över
over / past (in clock times)
istället
instead
sväva
to float
möjligtvis
possibly
Questions & Answers about Kan vi möjligtvis sväva över sjön istället?
How is möjligtvis formed from the adjective möjlig?
The adjective möjlig means "possible". To turn it into a sentence adverb meaning "possibly", you first put it in its neuter (t-word) form by adding a -t (möjligt), and then you add the suffix -vis. The suffix -vis means "way" or "manner" (similar to "-wise" or "-ly" in English), so möjligtvis literally means "in a possible way".
Could I just use kanske instead of möjligtvis here?
You could use kanske to mean "maybe", but möjligtvis translates directly to "possibly". In a question like this, möjligtvis makes the tone a bit more polite, tentative, or even pleading, exactly like asking "Can we possibly do this?" in English.
Why is möjligtvis placed right after vi?
möjligtvis is a sentence adverb. In a main clause question, the verb comes first (Kan) followed by the subject (vi). The rule is that sentence adverbs must come immediately after the subject in this structure, before the infinitive verb (sväva).
Does sväva mean floating on the water or in the air?
sväva specifically refers to hovering, gliding, or floating in the air (like a hot air balloon, a drone, or a ghost). If you want to talk about floating on the surface of the water like a boat or a piece of wood, you should use the verb flyta. Because it uses sväva, this sentence implies flying or hovering above the lake!
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