Breakdown of Du måste förnya tillståndet i stället för att begära ett nytt.
ett
a, an (neuter)
du
you (singular)
att
to
måste
to have to, must
ny
new
i stället för
instead of
begära
to request
tillståndet
the permit
förnya
to renew
Questions & Answers about Du måste förnya tillståndet i stället för att begära ett nytt.
How does the prefix för- work in the verb förnya?
The prefix för- is often added to an adjective to create a verb that means to make something more like that adjective. Here, it attaches to the root of ny (new) along with the infinitive ending -a, creating förnya which literally means to make new, or to renew.
What role does the inseparable prefix be- play in the verb begära?
The prefix be- often makes a verb transitive (meaning it requires a direct object) or gives it a more formal or abstract meaning. begära (to request or demand) acts as a single, inseparable unit. Unlike Swedish particle verbs, you can never separate be- from the rest of the word.
Why is att used in the phrase i stället för att begära?
In English, we usually say instead of requesting, using the -ing form of the verb after a preposition. Swedish does not have an exact equivalent to the -ing form here. Instead, when a verb follows a prepositional phrase like i stället för (instead of), you must use the infinitive marker att followed by the infinitive verb.
Why does the sentence end with ett nytt rather than just en ny?
The adjective must agree with the gender of the noun it replaces or refers back to. Since it refers to tillståndet (the permit), which is a neuter ett word, the adjective takes the neuter form nytt and is preceded by the neuter article ett.
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