Language/Swedish/Grammar/Plural-nouns

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Swedish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Swedish Nouns → Plural nouns

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of plural nouns in Swedish. Understanding how to form plural nouns is essential for building sentences and expressing ideas accurately. We will explore the rules and patterns for creating plural nouns, including irregular nouns that do not follow the usual patterns. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of plural nouns in Swedish and be able to use them confidently in your conversations and writing.

Gender of Nouns Review

Before we can discuss plural nouns, it's important to review the concept of gender in Swedish nouns. In Swedish, nouns are categorized into two genders: common and neuter. Common gender nouns can refer to both males and females, while neuter gender nouns are typically non-living objects or concepts.

Here are some examples of common and neuter gender nouns:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
en bil	en beel	a car
en bok	en book	a book
en flicka	en fleeka	a girl
ett hus	ett hoos	a house
ett äpple	ett epp-leh	an apple
ett bord	ett boord	a table

As you can see, common gender nouns are preceded by the indefinite article "en," while neuter gender nouns are preceded by the indefinite article "ett." This distinction will be important when forming plural nouns as well.

Forming Plural Nouns

In Swedish, the majority of nouns form their plurals by adding the suffix "-ar" to the singular form. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, which we will explore later in this lesson.

Let's take a look at some examples of forming plural nouns using the suffix "-ar":

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
en bok	en book	a book
böcker	boe-kar	books
en hund	en hoond	a dog
hundar	hoondar	dogs
en bil	en beel	a car
bilar	beelar	cars

As you can see, adding the suffix "-ar" to the singular form of the noun creates the plural form. It's important to note that if the noun is preceded by the indefinite article "en," it changes to "ett" in the plural form. For example, "en bok" (a book) becomes "böcker" (books), while "ett hus" (a house) becomes "hus" (houses).

Irregular Plural Nouns

While the majority of nouns follow the pattern of adding "-ar" to form their plural forms, there are several irregular plural forms that need to be memorized. These irregular nouns do not follow the typical rules and patterns, and their plural forms must be learned individually.

Here are some examples of irregular plural nouns:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
en man	en mahn	a man
män	mahn	men
en kvinna	en kvee-na	a woman
kvinnor	kvee-nor	women
ett barn	ett barn	a child
barn	barn	children

As you can see, the plural forms of these irregular nouns do not follow the pattern of adding "-ar." Instead, they have their own unique forms that must be memorized.

Cultural Insights

In Swedish culture, the concept of gender is deeply ingrained in the language. The distinction between common and neuter gender nouns affects not only the formation of plural nouns but also the use of pronouns and adjectives. This gender distinction reflects the historical influence of Old Norse, the language spoken by the Vikings, on the Swedish language.

Additionally, it's interesting to note that Swedish has a more fluid approach to gender compared to many other languages. Sweden is known for its progressive attitudes towards gender equality, and this is reflected in the language as well. For example, there is a growing movement to use gender-neutral pronouns and language forms to promote inclusivity.

Practice Exercises

Now, let's practice what we've learned so far. Form the plural forms of the following nouns:

en katt (a cat)
en stol (a chair)
en kvinna (a woman)
ett äpple (an apple)
ett träd (a tree)

Solution:

katter (cats)
stolar (chairs)
kvinnor (women)
äpplen (apples)
träd (trees)

Explanation:

In the first two examples, we simply add the suffix "-ar" to the singular forms to create the plural forms. However, in the case of "kvinnor" (women), the noun is irregular and has its own unique plural form. Similarly, "äpplen" (apples) and "träd" (trees) are also irregular nouns with their own specific plural forms.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to form plural nouns in Swedish. By understanding the rules and patterns for creating plural nouns, as well as memorizing the irregular forms, you can now confidently express yourself in Swedish and build more complex sentences. Keep practicing and applying your knowledge, and soon plural nouns will become second nature to you.

In the next lesson, we will continue our exploration of Swedish nouns by discussing definite and indefinite nouns. Stay tuned for more exciting language learning adventures!

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Swedish

Swedish Pronouns

Colors and Numbers

Swedish Culture

Swedish Verbs

Body parts and health

Swedish Nouns

Travel and directions

Sweden's history

Swedish Adjectives

Jobs and professions

Videos

Swedish Basics - Plurals - YouTube

Swedish Plurals with Vowel Change (Umlaut) - YouTube

Sources

Other Lessons

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