Breakdown of Min starka motståndare är trött.
vara
to be
trött
tired
min
my (min/mitt/mina)
stark
strong / spicy (of food)
motståndaren
the opponent
Questions & Answers about Min starka motståndare är trött.
Why does the adjective starka end in -a if the noun is singular?
Whenever you use a possessive word like min (my), the adjective that follows it must take the definite form, which almost always ends in -a. Even though it is just one opponent, stark becomes starka.
If the adjective is definite (starka), why isn't the noun definite too?
After a possessive pronoun like min, the noun itself must remain in the indefinite form. The possessive word already makes it specific enough! This is a very common trap for English speakers. You say min starka motståndare, never min starka motståndaren.
What is the root of the word motståndare?
It comes from the noun motstånd (resistance). The suffix -are works exactly like "-er" in English to describe a person who does something. So a motståndare is literally a "resister" or opponent.
Why doesn't trött also get an -a at the end?
trött comes after the verb är, describing the subject (this is called a predicative adjective). These adjectives don't care about the possessive word min at the beginning of the sentence; they simply agree with the number and gender of the noun. Since motståndare is a singular en-word, trött takes its basic form.
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