Word
Recensenten uppskattade gestaltningen, men det gjorde inte vi.
Meaning
The reviewer appreciated the characterization, but we did not.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Recensenten uppskattade gestaltningen, men det gjorde inte vi.
det
it (neuter)
vi
we
inte
not
göra
to do, to make
Questions & Answers about Recensenten uppskattade gestaltningen, men det gjorde inte vi.
Why do we need det in the second clause? Can't we just say men vi gjorde inte like in English?
In Swedish, you cannot leave a substitute verb hanging by itself like the English "we did not". You must include det to represent the entire action from the first clause (uppskattade gestaltningen). You are literally saying "but THAT did not we". This use of det is called a pro-predicative.
Why is the word order det gjorde inte vi rather than det gjorde vi inte?
Normally, in an inverted main clause, a pronoun subject comes before the sentence adverb (det gjorde vi inte). However, by placing inte before the subject (vi), you put heavy emphasis on the subject. It highlights the contrast: the reviewer liked it, but WE did not.
Could I use the original verb instead of gjorde in the second clause?
Yes, you could say ... men det uppskattade inte vi. However, Swedish often uses a form of göra (to do) as a substitute verb to avoid repeating the main verb, very similar to how English uses "did".
What kind of word is gestaltningen and how is it used here?
It is the definite form of en gestaltning (a portrayal, characterization, or shaping). It comes from the verb gestalta (to portray or give shape to). In a review context, it refers to how a character or story was brought to life by the actor or director.