Breakdown of Det här är en sorts smakrik kål.
vara
to be
det här
this (ett)
en sorts
a kind of
smakrik
flavorful
kålen
the cabbage
Questions & Answers about Det här är en sorts smakrik kål.
In en sorts smakrik kål, do we use en because kål is an en-word?
No, it is just a coincidence here! The phrase en sorts (a sort of) is fixed and always uses en, because it originally comes from the en-word en sort. Even if the following noun is an ett-word, like bröd (bread), the determiner remains exactly the same: en sorts.
If en sorts is fixed, what does the adjective smakrik agree with?
The adjective always agrees with the actual noun being described, which in this case is kål (an en-word). That is why it takes the base form smakrik. If you were describing an ett-word instead, the adjective would take the neuter -t ending, for example: en sorts smakrikt vin (a kind of flavorful wine).
Could I use ett slags instead of en sorts in this sentence?
Yes, you can! ett slags means exactly the same thing and is also a fixed phrase. Just like with en sorts, the adjective still agrees with the main noun. So you could equally say Det här är ett slags smakrik kål.
Why does the sentence start with Det här är instead of Den här är, since kål is an en-word?
When you use a phrase like 'This is' or 'That is' to introduce or identify something, Swedish always uses the neuter dummy pronoun det (forming det här är). You would only use den här if you were pointing out a specific cabbage without using the verb 'to be' right after, like in the sentence Den här kålen är smakrik (This cabbage is flavorful).
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