The articles in English are ‘a, an, the’ which are further classified as definite article (the) and the indefinite articles (a & an).
One of the trickiest aspect of Swedish language is which indefinite article (a & an) to use with which word. In English, it is relatively clear as which article to use with which words (a man, a woman, an elephant, an egg – words with vowel sound take the indefinite article ‘an’).
But in Swedish, many words are en- words and few are ett- words. One has to learn whether it is an en- or ett-word. And the definite article in Swedish is reflected at the word ending depending upon whether it is an en- or ett-word (stugan, THE COTTAGE), huset, THE HOUSE; byggnaden, THE BUILDING, slotted, THE CASTLE).
| Usage of articles in English & Swedish | |||
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Obestämnd form
INDEFINITE |
Bestämnd form
DEFINITE |
Obestämnd form
INDEFINITE PLURAL |
Bestämnd form
DEFINITE PLURAL |
| Enskola | Skolan | Skolor | Skolorna |
| A SCHOOL | THE SCHOOL | SCHOOLS | THE SCHOOLS |
| Ettäpple | Äpplet | Äpplen | Äpplena |
| AN APPLE | THE APPLE | APPLES | THE APPLES |
INFLECTIONS OF ADJECTIVES: Böjningavadjektiv
It is imperative to learn which word is what: an en- or ett- word? Because the indefinite article (en&ett) in Swedish determines a particular adjective: adjectives in Swedish language inflect. Adjectives in Swedish are three forms unlike in English which is only one, and there is a specific adjective for en- and ett- words, and also for a plural word!
| Böjningavadjektiv | ||
| Obestämd form INDEFINITE ARTICLE | ||
| En –ord | Ett-ord | Plural |
| Engrönstol | Ettgröntstol | Någragrönastolar |
| En hög mur | Ett högt hus | Några höga murar |
| En dyr klocka | Ett dyrt hotell | Några dyra hotell |
| En blå bil | Ett blått skåp | Några blåa blommor |
| Bestämd form DEFINITE ARTICLE | ||
| Den gröna stolen | Det gröna bordet | De gröna stolarna |
| Den höga muren | Det högt huset | De höga borden |
| Den dyra klockan | Det dyra hotellet | De dyra borden |
| Den blåa bilen | Det blåa skåpet | Den blåa blommorna |
Are there articles in Swedish language like in English: A, An, The. Yes, there are: En, Ett, Den, Det, De.
Are there indefinite articles ( A& An) and definite article (The) in Swedish. Yes, but there is a great variation. In English, the usage of the indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ depends upon the word – whether the word starts with a vowel or consonant: A house. A man. A human. A humanoid. An animal. A human being. An angel. …
