Breakdown of Hundratals desperata kunder var tvungna att vänta, oavsett vädret.
vänta
to wait / to expect (a baby)
vädret
the weather
kunden
the customer
vara tvungen att
to have to
desperat
desperate
oavsett
regardless of
hundratals
hundreds of
Questions & Answers about Hundratals desperata kunder var tvungna att vänta, oavsett vädret.
Why is it hundratals with an -s instead of ett hundratal?
When you add -s to a neuter approximation noun like ett hundratal (around a hundred), it turns into an indefinite plural quantifier meaning "hundreds of". If the sentence meant "Around a hundred customers", it would be Ett hundratal desperata kunder, but for "Hundreds of...", it becomes Hundratals.
Why does the adjective desperata take the plural -a ending right after hundratals?
Even though the root word ett hundratal is a singular noun, the expression hundratals acts just like plural quantifiers such as "many" or "several". It describes the plural noun kunder, so any adjective sandwiched between them must also take the plural form.
Why is it var tvungna instead of just var tvungen?
The expression for "have to" or "be forced to" is att vara tvungen. Because it behaves like an adjective, it must agree with the subject of the sentence. Since the subject kunder is plural, tvungen changes to its plural form tvungna.
Can I use the indefinite form väder after oavsett, or does it have to be definite (vädret)?
You can use both! You will actually see oavsett väder very often as a general fixed expression meaning "regardless of weather". Using the definite vädret here simply points to "the weather" they were experiencing at that specific moment.
Learn Hundratals desperata kunder var tvungna att vänta, oavsett vädret and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free