Breakdown of Ledaren för myteriets plan är att plundra fartyget.
vara
to be
att
to
för
for, to
planen
the plan
Questions & Answers about Ledaren för myteriets plan är att plundra fartyget.
Why does the possessive -s go on myteriets instead of Ledarens?
This is the phrasal genitive (gruppgenitiv). When a noun phrase consists of multiple words, like Ledaren för myteriet (the leader of the mutiny), Swedish attaches the possessive -s to the very last word of the entire phrase. Even though the plan belongs to the leader, the -s lands on myteriet because it is the final word in that descriptive block.
Does adding the -s change how the definite ending works on myteriet?
No, you simply build the noun phrase normally and then stick an -s on the end. The phrase is Ledaren för myteriet (the leader of the mutiny). Because it is a specific mutiny, myteri takes the definite -et suffix. The possessive -s is just added right after it to make myteriets.
Is it common to use such a long possessive phrase, or is there another way to say this?
While grammatically correct and common, long phrasal genitives can sometimes feel clumsy. A native speaker might rephrase it to avoid the heavy block of text by using a relative clause, such as Planen som ledaren för myteriet har är att plundra fartyget (the plan that the leader of the mutiny has is to plunder the ship).
What is the difference between fartyget and skeppet?