Swedish: Barely believe it

[James_Skipp]

Which is the best or most natural way to say I/he/she could barely believe it?

Jag kunde knappt tro det

or

Det var knappt att jag kunde tro det

(I don't really understand why Swedes write it the second way but I've seen both before)

 

[AutumnOwl]

In everyday use it's "jag kunde knappt tro det". I would only use "det var knappt att jag kunde tro det" about something that is almost unbelievable, but it did happen.

 

[winenous]

In everyday use it's "jag kunde knappt tro det". I would only use "det var knappt att jag kunde tro det" about something that is almost unbelievable, but it did happen.

I understand you are saying that "jag kunde knappt tro det" is more common, but I'm not sure whether you are also implying there is a difference in meaning.

To me (a Brit who knows some Norwegian) they both seem to mean the same, but if there is a difference what does "jag kunde knappt tro det" mean?

 

[AutumnOwl]

I understand you are saying that "jag kunde knappt tro det" is more common, but I'm not sure whether you are also implying there is a difference in meaning.

To me (a Brit who knows some Norwegian) they both seem to mean the same, but if there is a difference what does "jag kunde knappt tro det" mean?

As I said, to me the "det var knappt att jag kunde tro det" sounds literary, as something found in a book, or something that was used a hundred years ago when speaking to a person of higher rank. It's nothing I would use in a normal conversation, or expect to hear someone saying to me. Even if the meaning is the same as in "jag kunde knappt tro det", that is the expression how I would use for the English "I could hardly/barely believe it".