Language/Swedish/Grammar/Demonstrative-pronouns

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Swedish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Swedish Pronouns → Demonstrative pronouns

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on demonstrative pronouns in Swedish! In this lesson, we will explore how to use demonstrative pronouns to point out things in Swedish. Demonstrative pronouns are an essential part of the Swedish language as they help us identify and distinguish specific objects or people. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to use demonstrative pronouns correctly in Swedish sentences.

What are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are words that point out or refer to specific people, objects, or ideas. In Swedish, there are three main demonstrative pronouns: "den" (singular), "det" (singular neuter), and "de" (plural). These pronouns change depending on the gender and number of the noun they are referring to.

Demonstrative Pronouns in Singular

Let's start by looking at the demonstrative pronouns in the singular form. In Swedish, there are two singular pronouns: "den" and "det."

"Den" (singular)

The pronoun "den" is used to refer to a singular common gender noun. It can be translated to "that" or "it" in English. Here are a few examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
Den bilen	/deːn biːlən/	That car
Den hunden	/deːn ˈhʉːdən/	That dog
Den boken	/deːn ˈbuːkən/	That book
Den mannen	/deːn ˈmanːən/	That man
Den kvinnan	/deːn ˈkvɪnːan/	That woman

"Det" (singular neuter)

The pronoun "det" is used to refer to a singular neuter gender noun. It can also be translated to "that" or "it" in English. Here are a few examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
Det huset	/deːt ˈhʉːsɛt/	That house
Det äpplet	/deːt ˈɛpːlɛt/	That apple
Det bordet	/deːt ˈbuːɖɛt/	That table
Det hotellet	/deːt ˈhʊːˌtɛlːɛt/	That hotel
Det jobbet	/deːt ˈjʊbːɛt/	That job

Demonstrative Pronouns in Plural

Next, let's explore the plural form of demonstrative pronouns. In Swedish, the plural pronoun is "de." It can be translated to "those" or "they" in English. Here are a few examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
De bilarna	/dɛ ˈbiːlarna/	Those cars
De hundarna	/dɛ ˈhʉːndarna/	Those dogs
De böckerna	/dɛ ˈbœkɛrna/	Those books
De männen	/dɛ ˈmɛnːɛn/	Those men
De kvinnorna	/dɛ ˈkvɪnːɔrna/	Those women

Cultural Insights

In Swedish culture, the use of demonstrative pronouns reflects the importance of clarity and precision in communication. Swedes value directness and often use demonstrative pronouns to avoid ambiguity and ensure that their message is understood correctly. Additionally, the use of demonstrative pronouns can vary slightly between different regions in Sweden. For example, in some dialects, the pronoun "den" is used for both common gender and neuter gender nouns, while in standard Swedish, "den" is only used for common gender nouns.

Exercises

Now, let's practice using demonstrative pronouns in Swedish sentences. Choose the correct pronoun to complete each sentence:

1. ____ bilen är ny. 2. ____ äpplet är rött. 3. ____ jobbet är intressant. 4. ____ hotellet är dyrt. 5. ____ kvinnorna är vänliga.

Solutions: 1. Den 2. Det 3. Det 4. Det 5. De

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned how to use demonstrative pronouns in Swedish. Remember to pay attention to the gender and number of the noun you are referring to when choosing the correct pronoun. Practice using demonstrative pronouns in your daily Swedish conversations to become more proficient in the language. Keep up the great work, and soon you will be able to use demonstrative pronouns with ease!

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Swedish

• Greeting people
• Saying goodbye
• Asking for directions
• Going to a restaurant

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Swedish Pronouns

• Personal pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

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Colors and Numbers

• Colors
• Numbers 0-20
• Numbers 20-100
• Numbers above 100

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Swedish Culture

• Swedish customs
• Swedish food
• Swedish holidays
• Swedish geography

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Swedish Verbs

• Present tense
• Past tense
• Future tense
• Verbs with prepositions

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Body parts and health

• Body parts
• Symptoms and illnesses
• At the doctor's

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Swedish Nouns

• Gender of nouns
• Definite and indefinite nouns
• Plural nouns

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Travel and directions

• Means of transportation
• Booking a trip
• Giving directions

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Sweden's history

• Vikings and Middle Ages
• Modern Sweden
• Swedish politics and society

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Swedish Adjectives

• Basic adjectives
• Comparison of adjectives
• Compound adjectives

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Jobs and professions

• Types of jobs
• Job applications and interviews
• Workplace Swedish

Sources

• The Swedish Definite Form – Demonstrative Pronouns | Swedish ...
• Swedish grammar - Wikipedia
• Swedish Nouns, Articles, and Demonstratives - ielanguages.com
• Swedish demonstrative pronouns | Say it in Swedish

Other Lessons

• Time References
• Questions
• Present tense
• How to Talk About the Weather
• How to Use Have
• Adjectives
• Negation
• Definite Articles in Swedish
• Common Interjections
• Conditional Mood

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