Breakdown of Man kan inte utgå från gamla siffror.
inte
not
kunna
to be able to, can
gammal
old
man
one, you (people in general)
siffran
the figure
utgå från
to assume, to take as a starting point
Questions & Answers about Man kan inte utgå från gamla siffror.
What is the exact meaning of utgå från in this context?
The verb utgå combined with från means to use something as a starting point, to base your assumptions on it, or to go by it. Literally, it translates to go out from, but it is used metaphorically for making plans or drawing conclusions based on data.
Why does this sentence use siffror for figures instead of nummer or tal?
In Swedish, siffror is used for statistics, data, and the literal digits 0-9. Nummer is used for identification (like a phone or queue number), and tal is used for mathematical quantities or amounts. Since this sentence is about relying on data, siffror is the correct word.
Is utgå a separable verb? Could I say gå ut från instead?
No, utgå is a fixed compound verb in this context. While Swedish has the separable phrase gå ut (meaning to physically go outside), the word utgå must be kept as a single word when it means to assume, originate, or use as a basis.
Could I translate the English phrase go on literally and say gå på instead?
No, that would change the meaning completely. While gå på is a valid phrase, it usually means to fall for a trick or to physically walk on something. To express going on in the sense of relying on information, you must use utgå från or basera på.
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