Breakdown of Mannen är sömnlös, men envisheten är stor och han pusslar på.
vara
to be
han
he
och
and
stor
big
mannen
the man
men
but
pussla
to do a jigsaw puzzle
på
on (continuative aspectual particle)
sömnlös
sleepless
envisheten
the stubbornness
Questions & Answers about Mannen är sömnlös, men envisheten är stor och han pusslar på.
How does på change the meaning of pusslar in this sentence?
Here, på is a continuative aspectual particle. Just like the English word on in the phrase puzzles on, adding på after the verb shows that the man is continuing his action steadily and persistently, especially despite a challenge like being sleepless.
Is på functioning as a preposition here?
No, it is a verbal particle. You can tell because it does not connect to a following noun object (he is not puzzling on a table). Because it is a particle, på receives the main stress when spoken, whereas a preposition would usually be unstressed.
Can I attach på to any verb to mean that someone keeps doing something?
It works with many active, ongoing verbs to show persistence. Common examples include jobba på (keep working), kämpa på (keep struggling), and köra på (keep driving or going). However, you cannot use it with stative verbs like vara (to be) or verbs describing a sudden, momentary action.
Why does the Swedish sentence say envisheten (the stubbornness) instead of hans envishet (his stubbornness)?
Swedish often prefers using the definite form of a noun when the owner of that trait, item, or body part is already obvious from the context. Saying hans envishet would not be grammatically wrong, but envisheten flows much more naturally and idiomatically in this kind of descriptive sentence.
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