Understanding Swedish Relative Pronouns
Key Swedish Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns in Swedish link clauses together, referring to nouns mentioned earlier in the sentence. The most common relative pronouns in Swedish are som, vilket, and vars.
Using 'Som'
The word som is the most frequently used relative pronoun in Swedish. It works similarly to "who," "which," and "that" in English, depending on the context. It is quite versatile and can refer to people, animals, and things.
Hunden som skäller
The dog that barks
Boken som är intressant
The book that is interesting
Using 'Vilket'
The relative pronoun vilket is slightly less common and is used mainly to refer back to an entire clause or sentence. It translates to "which" in English. Often, it provides additional information or clarification.
Han glömde sitt paraply, vilket var ovanligt
He forgot his umbrella, which was unusual
Using 'Vars'
Vars is used to indicate possession, equivalent to the English "whose." It connects clauses to show ownership or association.
Flickan vars katt är borta
The girl whose cat is lost
- Use som for most relative clauses.
- Vilket is ideal for referring back to previous sentences.
- Utilize vars for possession.
Further Reading
- Essential Swedish Grammar
Overview of key Swedish grammar concepts.
- Introduction to Swedish Grammar
A beginner's guide to Swedish grammar.
- FluentU on Swedish Relative Pronouns
In-depth exploration of using relative pronouns in Swedish.