Breakdown of Hindret är den gamla strukturen.
vara
to be
gammal
old
den
the (with en-words)
strukturen
the structure
hindret
the obstacle
Questions & Answers about Hindret är den gamla strukturen.
Why is the definite form hindret instead of hinderet?
The noun hinder (obstacle) is an ett-word. When an ett-word ends in an unstressed -er, -el, or -en, you drop the final e in the stem before adding the definite suffix -et. This makes it easier to pronounce, giving us hindret.
Why do we say den gamla strukturen with both den and the -en ending?
This is a quick refresher on the Swedish double definite rule. When a definite noun is modified by an adjective, you must use the independent article den (since struktur is an en-word) AND keep the definite suffix -en on the noun itself.
Why does the adjective change to gamla in this sentence?
Because the phrase is definite, the adjective must take its definite form, which almost always ends in -a. The base adjective gammal is slightly irregular: it drops the second m and the unstressed a before adding the definite -a ending, resulting in gamla.
Can ett hinder refer to both physical and abstract obstacles?
Yes. Just like in English, you can use ett hinder for a physical barrier, such as a hurdle in a race, as well as for abstract roadblocks like the outdated organizational framework mentioned in this sentence.
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