Breakdown of Inte ens ridån kunde dölja hans scenskräck.
inte
not
kunna
to be able to, can
hans
his
dölja
to hide (conceal, e.g., feelings or truth)
ens
even
scenskräcken
the stage fright
ridån
the curtain (theater)
Questions & Answers about Inte ens ridån kunde dölja hans scenskräck.
Normally, inte comes after the first verb in a main clause. Why is inte ens at the very beginning here?
Because inte ens (not even) is acting as a focus particle directly modifying the subject, ridån (the curtain). When it modifies a specific noun phrase, it attaches directly to the front of it. If the sentence meant 'The curtain couldn't even hide...', the word order would be the standard Ridån kunde inte ens dölja...
Does starting the sentence with inte ens break the V2 (verb-second) rule?
No, the V2 rule is perfectly intact! The entire phrase Inte ens ridån functions as the subject, taking up the first block or position in the sentence. The finite verb kunde correctly sits right after it in the second position.
Could I use gömma instead of dölja here for 'hide'?
It wouldn't sound as natural. Gömma is typically used when you physically put an object or a person somewhere so they can't be found (like hiding a key). Dölja is used for concealing or masking things, especially intangibles like feelings, facts, or a condition like scenskräck (stage fright).
How is the word scenskräck formed?
It is a compound noun made of scen (stage or scene) and skräck (terror, fright, or horror). You will see skräck in other common vocabulary too, like skräckfilm (horror film) or skräckslagen (terrified).
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