LW #55: Word order - when we don't start with the subject
- May 20
- 4 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Usually we start our sentences with a subject, a noun or pronoun, that performs the action in the sentence.
Then we add the predicate (a verb), which can be one word or more depending on the type of verb we are using or its tense.
And then we add other things like an object (a noun or pronoun on which the object is performed) or a part of the sentence that gives us more information about when, where or how the action was performed.
For example:
Johan träffade sina vänner igår.
Johan met his friends yesterday.
Johan / träffade / sina vänner / igår.
subject: Johan
predicate: träffade
object: sina vänner
time: igår
Word order rules are not always easy to follow, not even in our native language, let alone in a foreign language. Especially if we learn them as adults, and especially when we are dealing with complex sentences.
But this one we are going to learn here is quite manageable if we focus on it:
In Swedish, if we don't start the sentence with a subject but some other part of it, we still have to put the predicate in second place, and the subject then comes after it.
For example:
(1) Johan (2) träffade sina vänner igår.
(1) Igår (2) träffade Johan sina vänner.
If we use modal verbs such as att måste, att vilja, etc. that are combined with the infinitive, or the present perfect tense that consists of two parts, the second part of the predicate comes after the subject.
Jag måste åka dit idag.
I have to go there today.
Idag måste jag åka dit.
If there is a negation, it follows the subject.
Du kom inte igår.
You didn't come yesterday.
Igår kom du inte.
Hans kan inte sjunga imorgon.
Hans can't sing tomorrow.
Imorgon kan Hans inte sjunga.
The same rule applies when we begin with the subordinate clause.
(1) Jag (2) var väldigt blyg när jag var liten.
I was very shy when I was little.
(1) När jag var liten (2) var jag väldigt blyg.
Exercises
Rewrite these sentences so that you start with the bolded part of the sentence.
Jag jobbar imorgon.
I work tomorrow.
Hon kan inte komma tyvärr.
Unfortunately, she can't come.
Han ville träffas igår.
He wanted to meet yesterday.
Man pratar svenska i Sverige.
People speak Swedish in Sweden.
De ville inte köppa detta hus.
They didn't want to buy this house.
Jag hade planerat att sjunga den här låten imorgon.
I had planned to sing this song tomorrow.
Han var väldigt artig som barn.
He was very polite as a child.
Vi såg många vackra byggnader när vi var i Italien.
We saw many beautiful buildings when we were in Italy.
Correct these sentences so that you keep the highlighted beginning.
Här vi röker inte!
We don't smoke here!
Igår vi gick på bio.
Yesterday we went to the cinema.
I Sverige man firar midsommar.
In Sweden, people celebrate Midsummer.
I Japan de gillar anime.
In Japan they like anime.
När vi var i USA vi fick möjlighet att prata mycket engelska.
When we were in the US we had the opportunity to speak a lot of English.
Om människor jag möter inte är artiga jag vill inte umgås med dem.
If people I meet aren't polite I don't want to hang out with them.
Correct answers
Rewrite these sentences so that you start with the bolded part of the sentence.
Jag jobbar imorgon.
I work tomorrow.
Imorgon jobbar jag.
Hon kan inte komma tyvärr.
Unfortunately, she can't come.
Tyvärr kan hon inte komma.
Han ville träffas igår.
He wanted to meet yesterday.
Igår ville han träffas.
Man pratar svenska i Sverige.
People speak Swedish in Sweden.
I Sverige pratar man svenska.
De ville inte köppa detta hus.
They didn't want to buy this house.
Detta hus ville de inte köpa.
Jag hade planerat att sjunga den här låten imorgon.
I had planned to sing this song tomorrow.
Den här låten planerade jag att sjunga imorgon.
Han var väldigt artig som barn.
He was very polite as a child.
Som barn var han väldigt artig.
Vi såg många vackra byggnader när vi var i Italien.
We saw many beautiful buildings when we were in Italy.
När vi var i Italien såg vi många vackra byggnader.
Correct these sentences so that you keep the highlighted beginning.
Här vi röker inte!
We don't smoke here!
Här röker vi inte!
Igår vi gick på bio.
Yesterday we went to the cinema.
Igår gick vi på bio.
I Sverige man firar midsommar.
In Sweden, people celebrate Midsummer.
I Sverige firar man midsommar.
I Japan de gillar anime.
In Japan they like anime.
I Japan gillar de anime.
När vi var i USA vi fick möjlighet att prata mycket engelska.
When we were in the US we had the opportunity to speak a lot of English.
När vi var i USA fick vi möjlighet att prata mycket engelska.
Om människor jag möter inte är artiga jag vill inte umgås med dem.
If people I meet aren't polite I don't want to hang out with them.
Om människor jag möter inte är artiga vill jag inte umgås med dem.
