Breakdown of Vare sig pusslet är överväldigande eller tråkigt, jobbar vi på.
vara
to be
vi
we
jobba
to work
eller
or
tråkig
boring
pusslet
the puzzle
vare sig
whether
på
on (continuative aspectual particle)
överväldigande
overwhelming
Questions & Answers about Vare sig pusslet är överväldigande eller tråkigt, jobbar vi på.
How does på change the meaning of jobbar in this sentence?
Adding the particle på to a verb gives it a continuative aspect, meaning the action is persistent or ongoing. While vi jobbar just means "we are working," vi jobbar på means "we keep on working" or "we plug away at it."
How do you use the phrase Vare sig ... eller?
This is a fixed expression meaning "Whether ... or". It presents two alternatives that do not change the outcome of the main clause. Note that if the sentence were negative, this exact same phrase would translate to "Neither ... nor".
Why is the word order jobbar vi på instead of vi jobbar på?
This is a great reminder of the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire first part of the sentence (Vare sig pusslet är överväldigande eller tråkigt) acts as a single subordinate clause taking up the first position. Therefore, the main verb jobbar must come next, pushing the subject vi after the verb.
Why does tråkigt end in a -t but överväldigande doesn't, if they both describe the same noun?
Both adjectives describe pusslet, which is an ett word (neuter). Tråkig gets a -t added to agree with this neuter noun. However, överväldigande is a present participle (a verb form ending in -ande or -ende acting as an adjective). These present participles are inflexible and never change their endings to match gender or plural forms.
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