Breakdown of Det vore underbart, men går det att anlägga en takodling i staden?
vara
to be
det
it (neuter)
en
a, an (common)
i
in
Questions & Answers about Det vore underbart, men går det att anlägga en takodling i staden?
How does the går det att structure work in this question?
This is the inverted question form of det går att (it is possible to / it can be done). By swapping the verb and subject to går det, it asks "is it possible to...?" followed by the infinitive marker att and the verb anlägga. It's the most common and natural way in Swedish to ask if a specific action is practically feasible.
Why use the verb anlägga here instead of a more common word like bygga (to build) or göra (to do/make)?
Anlägga is the specific verb used for establishing or laying out things that are integrated into an environment, such as gardens, parks, and roads. While bygga implies erecting a physical structure (like a house), anlägga implies planning, landscaping, and planting, making it the correct verb for creating a rooftop garden.
The sentence starts with Det vore underbart. Could I use Det skulle vara underbart instead?
Yes, absolutely. Det skulle vara means exactly the same thing ("it would be"). Vore is a special form (the past subjunctive) of vara (to be). Even though subjunctive forms are rare in modern Swedish, vore is extremely common in everyday speech and writing simply because it is shorter and flows beautifully.
Why does the word for "rooftop garden" use odling instead of trädgård?