Breakdown of Det är svårt att förstå varje abstrakt konstverk.
vara
to be
det
it (neuter)
att
to
svår
difficult
förstå
to understand
varje
every, each
konstverket
the artwork
abstrakt
abstract
Questions & Answers about Det är svårt att förstå varje abstrakt konstverk.
In this lesson we are learning to drop the infinitive marker att. Why do we still use it here before förstå?
The rule to drop att applies specifically after semi-modals of impression, like verka (to seem) and tyckas (to appear). In this sentence, förstå follows the adjective phrase är svårt, which does not trigger that exception and requires the infinitive marker att.
Konstverk is an ett word. Why isn't the adjective written as abstraktt with an added -t?
Swedish spelling rules prevent adding a -t to an adjective if it already ends in a consonant followed by -t. Because the root word abstrakt already ends in -kt, it does not take an extra -t for neuter (ett) nouns. It remains exactly the same for both genders.
Does the word varje change depending on whether it is describing an en word or an ett word?
No, varje (every/each) is invariable. It looks exactly the same whether it is followed by an en word or an ett word. It must also always be followed by a singular noun in its indefinite form, which is why we see konstverk instead of konstverket.
Could I use Den instead of Det to start this sentence?
No, you must use Det. When acting as a dummy subject referring to a general statement or an upcoming action (here, the action of understanding artwork), Swedish strictly uses the neuter pronoun det. Den is only used when referring back to a specific, previously mentioned en word.
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