Word
Att vara singel, det kan vara underbart.
Meaning
Being single, it can be wonderful.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Att vara singel, det kan vara underbart.
vara
to be
det
it (neuter)
att
to (before a verb)
kunna
to be able to, can
Questions & Answers about Att vara singel, det kan vara underbart.
Why do we need the word det here instead of just saying Att vara singel kan vara underbart?
Both are grammatically correct! Saying Att vara singel kan vara underbart is a standard sentence. However, this sentence uses left-dislocation. By isolating Att vara singel at the beginning and then referring back to it with the resumptive pronoun det, you place strong emphasis on the topic, similar to saying 'As for being single, it can be wonderful.'
Doesn't the V2 rule mean the verb should come right after the comma?
No, because the fronted topic Att vara singel sits completely outside the main clause. The main clause itself actually starts with the pronoun det. Since det is the first element inside the main clause, the verb kan takes the second position as usual, perfectly following the V2 rule.
Why does underbart end in a -t here?
The adjective underbart takes a -t ending because it describes the pronoun det. The word det represents the entire infinitive phrase Att vara singel. In Swedish, infinitive phrases are always treated as grammatically neuter, so adjectives describing them must take the neuter -t ending.
Could I use ensam instead of singel in this sentence?
It would change the meaning. Singel refers specifically to your relationship status, meaning you do not have a partner. Ensam means alone or lonely. While being alone can also be wonderful, this sentence is specifically talking about the joys of the single relationship status.