Question 1

Why do we use i sig instead of i den, given that essensen is an en-word?

Accepted Answer

The phrase i sig works as a fixed emphatic expression meaning in itself or per se. When referring back to a third-person subject in this abstract way, Swedish uses the reflexive sig regardless of whether the noun is an en-word or an ett-word.

Question 2

Why is it svår instead of svårt? Doesn't the phrase hard to explain usually take svårt?

Accepted Answer

You are probably thinking of sentences that start with a dummy subject, like Det är svårt att förklara (It is hard to explain). In those cases, the adjective is neuter. But in this sentence, the adjective directly describes essensen, which is an en-word. Therefore, it must be the en-word form svår.

Question 3

Could I use själv instead of i sig to say the essence itself?

Accepted Answer

You could say Essensen själv, but it slightly changes the feel. Själv often personifies the noun or emphasizes exclusion. i sig specifically gives the meaning of inherently or per se, which fits perfectly with abstract concepts like an essence.

Question 4

Does the placement of i sig matter? Can it go at the end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

It needs to stay right where it is. Because i sig is acting emphatically to modify essensen, it should immediately follow the noun it emphasizes. Putting it at the end would sound disjointed and unnatural in Swedish.

Essensen i sig är svår att förklara.

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