Breakdown of Tulltjänstemannen blev misstänksam mot passageraren.
bli
to become
passageraren
the passenger
mot
towards, against
tulltjänstemannen
the customs officer
misstänksam
suspicious
Questions & Answers about Tulltjänstemannen blev misstänksam mot passageraren.
Why is mot used here instead of a direct translation for "of"?
In Swedish, emotions, attitudes, or behaviors directed at someone usually take the preposition mot (towards/against). So instead of being suspicious "of" someone, you are suspicious "towards" them (misstänksam mot).
What is the difference between misstänksam and misstänkt?
Misstänksam describes the person who is actively feeling distrust (the customs officer). Misstänkt means 'suspected' and is used for the person or thing under suspicion (what the passenger might be).
How does the compound word tulltjänstemannen break down?
It is made of tull (customs) + tjänst (service/duty) + mannen (the man/officer). The 'e' in the middle is a linking vowel used in many Swedish compounds. A tjänsteman is a standard term for a public official or white-collar worker, making a tulltjänsteman a customs officer.
Could I use var instead of blev in this sentence?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. Blev (became) emphasizes a change in state, implying that something the passenger did during the encounter triggered the suspicion. Var (was) would simply describe the officer's ongoing state of mind from the beginning.
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