Question 1

Why is the adjective öppet instead of öppen or öppent?

Accepted Answer

The base form of the adjective for "open" is öppen, which ends in an unstressed -en. Because it describes the neuter noun fönstret (the window), we need the neuter form. For adjectives ending in an unstressed -en, you do not just add a -t. Instead, you drop the -en and replace it entirely with -et, resulting in öppet.

Question 2

What does låta bli mean in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Låta bli is a common expression meaning "refrain from," "stop," or "leave alone" (literally "let be"). When you use it to say you are refraining from an action, you follow it with att and the infinitive verb, like låta bli att lämna (refrain from leaving).

Question 3

Why is there an att before lämna but not before låta?

Accepted Answer

Måste (must) is a modal verb, and modal verbs are followed directly by the bare infinitive without att (hence måste låta). However, låta bli acts as a standard verb phrase here. To connect it to the next action, you need the infinitive marker att, making it låta bli att lämna.

Question 4

Since fönstret is in its definite form ("the window"), shouldn't the adjective also take the definite ending (öppna)?

Accepted Answer

You only use the definite adjective form (öppna) when it comes directly before the definite noun, as in det öppna fönstret (the open window). In this sentence, the adjective comes after the verb to describe the state the window is left in. This is called a predicative adjective, and it only needs to agree with the noun's gender and number, which is why it takes the neuter singular form öppet.

Vi måste låta bli att lämna fönstret öppet.

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