Breakdown of Jag ber honom att färdigställa sin sammanställning, även om han är trött.
jag
I
vara
to be
han
he
trött
tired
att
to
honom
him
sin
his/her/its/their own (en-word)
även om
even if, even though
be
to ask for, to request
färdigställa
to finalize
sammanställningen
the compilation
Questions & Answers about Jag ber honom att färdigställa sin sammanställning, även om han är trött.
Why do we use sin here when the main subject of the sentence is Jag?
This is a special case called an object-controlled reflexive. While sin usually points back to the main subject, here honom acts as the logical subject of the infinitive verb färdigställa (since he is the one doing the finalizing). In infinitive clauses like this, sin/sitt/sina refers to that logical subject rather than the main subject of the sentence.
Would the meaning change if I said hans sammanställning instead?
Yes, drastically! If you use hans here, it means you are asking him to finish a compilation that belongs to a completely different man. By using sin, you clarify that he is finishing his own compilation.
Are färdigställa and sammanställning related? They both seem to have ställ in them.
Exactly. Both are built around the highly versatile root verb ställa (to put or place). Färdigställa literally means to put ready (to finalize), while sammanställning comes from sammanställa, meaning to put together (a compilation or summary).
Is även om always used for both even if and even though?
Yes, Swedish uses även om for both the factual even though and the hypothetical even if. You have to rely on the context to tell whether his being tired is an established fact or just a possibility.
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