Breakdown of Skalvet var intensivt, varför jag tror att vulkanen är aktiv.
jag
I
vara
to be
tro
to believe
att
that
intensiv
intense
vulkanen
the volcano
aktiv
active
varför
which is why
skalvet
the quake
Questions & Answers about Skalvet var intensivt, varför jag tror att vulkanen är aktiv.
Why is the word order varför jag tror instead of varför tror jag?
When varför is used in a direct question, it triggers the V2 rule where the verb comes before the subject (varför tror jag). However, in this sentence it acts as a relative adverb meaning 'which is why'. This introduces a type of relative clause, so it follows subordinate clause word order: the subject (jag) comes right before the verb (tror).
Could I just use därför (therefore) instead of varför here?
You could, but it would change the sentence structure. därför introduces a new main clause, which forces the verb to come before the subject (the V2 rule): ...intensivt, därför tror jag... Using varför connects the two ideas more smoothly as a single continuous thought via a relative clause.
Why does the adjective intensivt have a -t at the end?
It describes skalvet (the quake). Because ett skalv is a neuter noun, any adjective describing it must take the neuter agreement ending -t, even when separated by a verb like var.
Is skalvet the same thing as jordbävningen?
They are very close. ett skalv is a general term for a quake, tremor, or shaking, whereas en jordbävning specifically means an earthquake. In contexts like this, skalvet is the most common, natural way to refer to the tremor.
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