Noun Groups
utrum, en-ord (four examples)
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
en hund
a/one dog
en älg
a/one moose
en flicka
a/one girl (child)
en ingenjör
a/one engineer
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
hunden
the dog
älgen
the moose
flickan
the girl (child)
ingenjören
the engineer
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
hundar
dogs
älgar
flickor
girls (children)
ingenjörer
engineers
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
hundarna
the dogs
älgarna
the moose
flickorna
the girls (children)
ingenjörerna
the engineers
neutrum, ett-ord (two examples)
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
ett barn
a/one child a/one kid
ett får
a/one sheep
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
barnet
the child/kid
fåret
the sheep
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
barn
children/kids
får
sheep
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
barnen
the children/kids
fåren
the sheep
Notice how the plural obestämd form of the neutrum nouns barn and får do not get a plural ending unlike hund, älg, flicka, or ingenjör. The noun itself, just like the noun "sheep" in English, is the plural.
neutrum, but utrum-style (two examples)
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
ett äpple
an/one apple
ett täcke
a/one (bed) blanket
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
äpplet
the apple
täcket
the (bed) blanket
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
äpplen
apples
täcken
(bed) blankets
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
äpllena
the apples
täckena
the (bed) blankets
Notice how unlike the plural obestämd form for the neutrum nouns defined previously, barn and får, the plural obestämd forms for these neutrum nouns, äpple and täcke, actually have an utrum-like, distinct ending.
irregular nouns (four examples)
It's also important to note that Swedish has, like many languages, irregular nouns.
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
en man
a/one man
en bok
a/one book
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
mannen
the man
boken
the book
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
män
men
böcker
books
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
männen
the men
böckerna
the books
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
en mus
a/one mouse
en gås
a/one goose
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
musen
the mouse
gåsen
the goose
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
möss
mice, mouses
gäss
geese
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
mössen
the mice/mouses
gässen
the geese
the "the"
As shown above, appending the appropriate endings to create the singular or plural bestämd form does in fact translate to "the [noun(s)]". However, once an adjective gets involved, it no longer does. Det and den, which both mean that/it, and de, which means they/those, is used in addition to the endings.
This is something called double definiteness and is a characteristic of Swedish.
singular obestämd singular indefinite (singular, non-specific)
en hund
a/one dog
ett barn
a/one child
a/one kid
singular obestämd med adjektiv singular indefinite with adjective (singular, non-specific)
en trevlig hund
a/one pleasant dog
ett trevligt barn
a/one pleasant child a/one pleasant kid
singular bestämd singular definite (singular, specific)
hunden
the dog
barnet
the child/kid
singular bestämd utan adjektiv med dubbel bestämdhet singular definite without adjective with double definiteness (singular, specific)
den hunden
that dog
det barnet
that child/kid
singular bestämd med adjektiv och dubbel bestämdhet singular definite with adjective and double definiteness (singular, specific)
den trevliga hunden
the/that pleasant dog
det trevliga barnet
the/that pleasant child
the/that pleasant kid
plural obestämd plural indefinite (many, non-specific)
hundar
dogs
barn
children/kids
plural bestämd plural definite (many, specific)
hundarna
the dogs
barnen
the children/kids
plural bestämd utan adjektiv med dubbel bestämdhet plural definite without adjective with double definiteness (many, specific)
de hundarna
those dogs
de barnen
those children/kids
plural bestämd med adjektiv och dubbel bestämdhet plural definite with adjective and double definiteness (many, specific)
de trevliga hundarna
the/those pleasant dogs
de trevliga barnen
the/those pleasant children the/those pleasant kids
Notice how once the Swedish adjectives get involved, the translations of det, den and de change in English.
This enables Swedish's usage of här and där in conjunction with det, den, and de.
det (där)
that/it that/it (there) that/it thing (there)
den (där)
that/it that/it (there) that/it one (there)
det här
this that/it here that/it thing here
den här
this that/it here that/it one here
de (där)
they/those they/those (there) they/those ones (there)
de här
these they/those here they/those ones here
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