Breakdown of Själva tricket är också imponerande.
vara
to be
också
also
imponerande
impressive
tricket
the trick
själva
the actual / the ... itself
Questions & Answers about Själva tricket är också imponerande.
Why do we use själva here instead of självt, given that trick is an ett-word?
When used as an emphatic determiner meaning "the actual" or "[noun] itself" right before a noun, själva is invariable. It never changes to match the gender or number of the noun, so it stays själva even before the ett-word tricket.
Why isn't there a front article like det before själva tricket?
Unlike normal adjectives, which require double definite articles (like det stora tricket), själva is a determiner. It skips the standalone front article and attaches directly to the definite noun, similar to how hela (the whole) or båda (both) work.
Is there a difference between själva tricket and tricket självt?
They mean the exact same thing ("the trick itself"), but the word order changes the grammar. Before the noun, you use the invariable determiner själva (själva tricket). If you place it after the noun for emphasis, it acts as a pronoun and must agree with the ett-word, becoming tricket självt.
Why doesn't imponerande get a -t ending to match the ett-word tricket?
The word imponerande (impressive) is a present participle, which is a verb form ending in -ande or -ende that acts as an adjective. These forms are completely inflexible in Swedish. They never take a -t for ett-words or an -a for plurals.
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