Breakdown of Vad du än gör borde du undvika det otänkbara.
du
you (singular)
vad
what
göra
to do, to make
det
the (with ett-words)
undvika
to avoid
böra
should, ought to
än
ever (concessive particle)
otänkbar
unthinkable
Questions & Answers about Vad du än gör borde du undvika det otänkbara.
Why does otänkbara end in -a if it refers to a neuter concept?
When turning an adjective into an abstract noun (substantivation), Swedish uses the neuter definite article det along with the definite form of the adjective, which ends in -a. So otänkbar becomes det otänkbara (the unthinkable).
Could I say något otänkbart instead of det otänkbara in this sentence?
You could, but it changes the nuance. Det otänkbara refers to 'the unthinkable' as a specific, overarching abstract concept. Något otänkbart means 'something unthinkable', which feels more like any random unthinkable action rather than the ultimate abstract idea.
How does än work in the phrase Vad du än gör?
While än typically means 'than' or 'still' on its own, combining it with a question word creates an '-ever' meaning. Vad ... än means 'whatever', vem ... än means 'whoever', and var ... än means 'wherever'.
Why is the word order borde du instead of du borde in the second half?
This is the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire subordinate clause Vad du än gör occupies the first position in the main sentence. Therefore, the main verb borde must take the second position, pushing the subject du to the third position.
Learn Vad du än gör borde du undvika det otänkbara and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free