Breakdown of Jag är pigg på kvällen, medan min fru är väldigt trött.
jag
I
vara
to be
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
kvällen
the evening
pigg
alert
Questions & Answers about Jag är pigg på kvällen, medan min fru är väldigt trött.
Why do we use medan here instead of men (but)?
While men translates to "but", medan is used here as "whereas" or "while" to show a direct contrast between two states. It emphasizes the comparison between you being alert and your wife being tired.
Because medan is a subordinating conjunction, how does it affect word order?
It starts a subordinate clause. In this specific sentence, the subject (min fru) still comes before the verb (är). However, if you added a sentence adverb like inte (not), it would have to go before the verb (medan min fru inte är väldigt trött) following the standard Swedish sub-clause word order rule.
What is the exact meaning of pigg?
pigg means awake, alert, energetic, or fresh. It is the perfect natural opposite to trött (tired). Swedes use it frequently to describe feeling awake in the morning or refreshed after a cup of coffee.
Why does the sentence use the definite form in på kvällen?
To say that you are alert "in the evening" as a general, recurring habit, Swedish uses the preposition på plus the definite form of the time of day. This implies you are always alert during evenings in general.
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