Learn Swedish: Vi stannade i stugan där vi kämpade på med pusslet. - We stayed in the cottage where we kept on struggling with the puzzle.

The verb kämpa means to struggle, fight, or work hard. By adding the continuative particle på, it adds the meaning of continuing an action without stopping, often despite difficulty. Together, kämpade på means we kept at it or soldiered on with the puzzle.

Is på acting as a preposition connecting to the puzzle?

No, på is a verbal particle that belongs to kämpade. The actual preposition connecting the action to the puzzle is med (with). Because på is a particle here, it carries the sentence stress when spoken, so you would pronounce it kämpade PÅ med pusslet.

Is the verb kämpa (to fight/struggle) too dramatic for working on a jigsaw puzzle?

Not at all. While kämpa can mean to fight in a literal sense, the phrase kämpa på is widely used in everyday Swedish for any task that requires endurance or effort. You can use it for doing homework, finishing a tedious chore, or tackling a tricky puzzle.

Why is the word order där vi kämpade instead of där kämpade vi?