Question 1

How could I turn the second part of this sentence into an exclamation like 'How much the northern lights are sparkling tonight!' using the rules from this lesson?

Accepted Answer

You would say Så mycket norrskenet gnistrar ikväll! Following the pattern from this lesson, you use Så + adverb (mycket) + the subject (norrskenet) + the verb (gnistrar). Notice that the subject and verb keep their normal declarative word order, just as they do in the original sentence.

Question 2

Could I use tycker instead of tror in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it changes the context. You use tror when you are assuming or guessing a fact, for example if you just read an aurora forecast but aren't outside yet. You use tycker when you are expressing a direct personal observation, meaning you are currently standing outside, looking at the sky, and deciding it looks brighter than usual.

Question 3

Why isn't the word att (that) used here, like Jag tror att...?

Accepted Answer

You absolutely can use att, making it Jag tror att norrskenet gnistrar mer ikväll. However, in everyday spoken and written Swedish, the subjunction att is very often dropped after common verbs like tror, tycker, and säger, much like we often drop 'that' in English.

Question 4

How is the word norrskenet built?

Accepted Answer

It is a compound of norr (north) and skenet, which is the definite form of the ett-word ett sken (a light, glow, or shine). So it literally translates to 'the north glow'.

Jag tror norrskenet gnistrar mer ikväll.

Breakdown of Jag tror norrskenet gnistrar mer ikväll.

Questions & Answers about Jag tror norrskenet gnistrar mer ikväll.

Learn Jag tror norrskenet gnistrar mer ikväll and more in Swedish