"Sekreteraren förklarar hur datorn fungerar."

Translation: The secretary is explaining how the computer works.

[OpenVMS]

She's sysadmin then.

[ZaListios]

Förklarar is kind of like "for clarify" so it may be a cognate but I'm not sure

[creativemetaphor]

Can 'operates' work here for fungerar?

[Zmrzlina]

No, but functions does. Also, seconding what JoelWibron said.

[Joel__W]

I'm not a native speaker, but operate implies to me a somewhat more intricate way of functioning. Operera in Swedish has a very similar usage. While techinally a correct translation, The secretary explains how the computer operates feels like the secretary is explaining the specific workings of the operating system. I'm not sure that's what's implied.

[3SfVXnZ0]

Is the secretary explaining the inner workings, or explaining how to use the computer? Does it matter?

[sotnosen93]

It can mean both, though as a native speaker I personally interpreted it as the latter.

[Carmen-lp]

Why can't I say "... is working"?

[JustinPhel]

Why doesn't 'clarifies' work in place of 'explains'?

[ShawnSvenska]

Then you would say "Beskriver" : Att Beskriva

[Reggy267635]

Works or is working should not be counted as a mistake.
It is not english we are studying but swedish. Both mean the same

[Ulincsys]

Could I say The secretary shows how the computer works

[Arnauti]

No, that would be visar in Swedish.

[LondonOwl7]

Why doesn't describe work for förklarar, I'm sure my teacher translated it this way in my classes in Sweden...

[JavadMousa3]

Ok