Breakdown of Både baddräkten och handduken måste vara identiska.
vara
to be
och
and
måste
to have to, must
handduken
the towel
både
both
baddräkten
the swimsuit
identisk
identical (exactly the same)
Questions & Answers about Både baddräkten och handduken måste vara identiska.
Why is it identiska and not just identisk?
Because the adjective describes two items (baddräkten and handduken), making the subject plural. In Swedish, adjectives must agree in number with the subject they describe, even when they come after verbs like vara (to be). Therefore, the base word identisk gets the plural -a ending.
The lesson is about using samma + noun + som. How could I express a similar idea using that structure?
To use the lesson's grammar, you would need to specify what makes them identical by inserting a noun. For example, you could say Baddräkten måste ha samma mönster som handduken (The swimsuit must have the same pattern as the towel). Using the plural adjective identiska is simply an alternative way to express that they share the exact same qualities without naming a specific noun.
Why are baddräkten and handduken in the definite form here?
Even though they are linked by både ... och (both ... and), the nouns still follow normal definiteness rules. Since the sentence is talking about a specific swimsuit and a specific towel, they both take the definite -en suffix. The conjunction både ... och just links them together without changing their individual grammar.
Why is the verb vara used here instead of är?
Because it follows the modal verb måste (must). Just like in English where we say "must be" (and not "must is"), Swedish uses the infinitive form vara directly after a modal verb. You also do not use the word att (to) between them.
Learn Både baddräkten och handduken måste vara identiska and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free