Breakdown of Den typen av problem är svår.
vara
to be
svår
difficult
problemet
the problem
den
the (with en-words)
av
of, by / from (cause)
typen
the type, the kind
Questions & Answers about Den typen av problem är svår.
Why is the adjective svår used instead of svårt, since problem is an ett-word?
The adjective must agree with the grammatical subject of the sentence. Here, the subject is Den typen (that kind), which is an en-word. Even though problem is right next to the verb, svår describes the type of problem, not the problem itself.
Why do we say Den typen instead of just Den typ?
When you use den, det, or de to mean 'that' or 'those', Swedish requires the noun that follows to be in its definite form. Because typ is an en-word, it becomes typen. Literally, you are saying 'that the type'.
Is problem singular or plural here?
It functions as a general category here, similar to how we say 'that kind of problem' in English. Remember that problem is an ett-word that does not change its spelling in the plural indefinite form (ett problem, många problem), so it looks the same either way.
Is the word av required here, or can I skip it?
Yes, av is required when using typen to mean 'the type of'. Just like in English, you need the preposition to connect the category to the noun itself.
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