Mary tycker om att köpa kläder till Tom i present.

Sentence Discussions Swedish
#1
English Translation

Mary likes to buy Tom clothes as gifts.

Why is this not plural, please? (presenter) T

1 Like
#2

I can’t say why, but plural would sound weird.

2 Likes
#3

Lol - now that’s just not allowed! I can’t learn grammar rules based on feelings. :crazy_face:

1 Like
#4

Actually - i think Google translate has a suggestion - rather than “as gifts” it works better as “buy Tom clothes as A present”. I can live with that.

1 Like
#5
English Translation

Mary likes to buy Tom clothes as gifts.

Why do you assume it’s plural? “Getting something for someone AS A GIFT” makes more sense, if we’re talking about one person.

1 Like
#6

Because the English underneath says “as gifts”. Plural in the English translation.

I was hinting that, if the Swedish is singular, then the English should say “as a gift”.

1 Like
#7

DeepL also translates it in the plural form, but gives two alternatives - one showing a singular form (Mary likes to buy clothes for Tom as a gift.)

1 Like
#8

I don’t know if you use transcribe mode - but having the English playing a little “fast and loose” makes it harder. I get that it’s “close enough” to the meaning - but not when you are transcribing.