A2 pronoun Neutre 2 min de lecture

ingen

/ˈɪŋɛn/
Entraîne-toi Notes et astuces

Overview

The Swedish word 'ingen' is a fascinating and fundamental word with a multifaceted role as both a pronoun and a determiner. Its usage depends heavily on the grammatical gender and number of the noun it modifies or replaces. 'Ingen' itself is the form used for masculine and feminine singular nouns. For neuter singular nouns, the correct form is 'inget', and for plural nouns (regardless of gender), it becomes 'inga'. This gender and number agreement is a cornerstone of Swedish grammar and essential for correct usage.

As a pronoun, 'ingen' translates directly to 'no one' or 'nobody'. In this role, it stands alone and acts as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating the complete absence of people. For example, 'Ingen kom till festen' means 'No one came to the party.' Here, 'ingen' is the subject of the verb 'kom' (came). Similarly, 'Jag såg ingen' means 'I saw no one,' with 'ingen' as the object of 'såg' (saw).

As a determiner, 'ingen' translates to 'no' and precedes a noun, specifying the absence of that noun. It functions similarly to 'a' or 'the' but with a negative connotation. For instance, 'Jag har ingen bil' translates to 'I have no car.' In this sentence, 'ingen' modifies the masculine singular noun 'bil' (car). If the noun were neuter singular, like 'hus' (house), you would say 'Jag har inget hus' ('I have no house'). For plural nouns, such as 'böcker' (books), it would be 'Jag har inga böcker' ('I have no books').

It's crucial to understand that 'ingen' (and its variants) is almost always used in sentences that are already grammatically negative. Unlike English, where you might say 'I don't have any money,' Swedish typically employs a single negative marker. So, 'Jag har inga pengar' directly translates to 'I have no money,' rather than 'I don't have no money.' This is a common point of confusion for English speakers learning Swedish.

Furthermore, 'ingen' can be combined with other words to form more complex expressions. For example, 'ingen alls' means 'no one at all,' emphasizing the complete absence. Understanding the different forms ('ingen', 'inget', 'inga') and their respective roles as pronouns and determiners is key to mastering this essential Swedish word.

Exemples

1

Ingen vet var han är.

General statement

No one knows where he is.

2

Det fanns ingen där.

Describing absence

There was no one there.

3

Ingen annan kunde ha gjort det.

Emphasizing uniqueness

No one else could have done it.

4

Jag träffade ingen.

Reporting a lack of encounters

I met no one.

5

Ingen fara!

Common idiom (literally 'no danger')

No problem!

Collocations courantes

ingen aning
ingen fara
ingen orsak
ingen idé

Souvent confondu avec

ingen vs ingen aning

2 WORDS

Modèles grammaticaux

Ingen + noun (e.g., ingen tid) Inte någon + noun (e.g., inte någon tid) Ingen av + plural definite noun (e.g., ingen av dem)

Comment l'utiliser

The Swedish word 'ingen' translates to 'no one' or 'nobody' when referring to people, and 'no' or 'not any' when referring to countable nouns in their indefinite form. It is crucial to remember that 'ingen' inflects for gender and number when used as a determiner before a noun. The forms are: 'ingen' for common gender singular (e.g., 'ingen bil' - no car), 'inget' for neuter gender singular (e.g., 'inget hus' - no house), and 'inga' for plural (e.g., 'inga bilar' - no cars). When used as a pronoun meaning 'no one' or 'nobody,' it remains 'ingen' regardless of the implied gender or number of the people it refers to. For example, 'Ingen kom' means 'No one came.' It always takes a singular verb form even when it refers to multiple people. It often triggers negation in the verb, similar to English 'no one did anything' where 'did' is affirmative and 'anything' is negative. In Swedish, it's 'Ingen gjorde något' (No one did anything) – 'gjorde' (did) is affirmative, and 'något' (anything) is indefinite. It cannot be used with a double negative. For instance, you wouldn't say 'Ingen kommer inte' (No one isn't coming) – the correct form would be 'Ingen kommer' (No one is coming).

Erreurs courantes

A common mistake is confusing 'ingen' (no one/not any) with 'inget' (nothing/not any, for neuter nouns) or 'inga' (no/not any, for plural nouns). 'Ingen' is used for common gender singular nouns or when referring to people.

Origine du mot

From Old Swedish 'ingen', which is a compound of 'in' (not) and 'gen' (one, a person). It developed from the Old Norse 'enginn', meaning 'no one' or 'nothing'. This in turn derives from a Proto-Germanic compound, likely combining a negative particle with a word for 'one' or 'any'. The 'gen' component has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old English 'ǣnig' (any) and German 'einig' (some, a few). Over time, the word evolved to specifically mean 'no one' or 'none' when referring to people or countable things, and also functions as a determiner meaning 'no' or 'not any'. Its development parallels similar negative indefinite pronouns in other Indo-European languages, often formed by negating an indefinite pronoun for 'one' or 'any'. The usage and form have remained relatively stable in Swedish over several centuries, maintaining its role as a fundamental negative pronoun and determiner.

Contexte culturel

In Swedish culture, the word 'ingen' (no one/nobody) is used similarly to its English equivalent, yet nuances exist within social interactions. Swedes generally value politeness and directness, but avoid confrontational language. Therefore, using 'ingen' in a definitive or absolute sense might occasionally be softened in conversation, for example, by adding 'kanske' (perhaps) or 'inte riktigt' (not really) if the speaker wants to avoid appearing overly assertive or dismissive. However, in factual statements, 'ingen' is used directly without such softening. In a cultural context valuing consensus and avoiding individual standout, 'ingen' can sometimes subtly reflect a collective perspective. For instance, 'Ingen tycker om det' (No one likes it) might imply a general sentiment rather than a literal poll of every single person, aligning with a cultural tendency towards group harmony. The concept of 'Jantelagen' (The Law of Jante), while less prominent today, historically discouraged individual boasting or standing out, and in some very subtle ways, 'ingen' could be used to reinforce this collective modesty, though this is a very indirect and rarely explicit connection.

Astuce mémo

ingen (no one) sounds like 'ingent' which could remind you of 'urgent' situations where there is 'no one' to help.

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

'Ingen' in Swedish translates to 'no one,' 'nobody,' 'none,' or 'not any,' depending on the context. It's used to express the absence or non-existence of something or someone.

'Ingen' acts as an indefinite pronoun or an adjective. For example, as a pronoun, 'Ingen kom till festen' means 'No one came to the party.' As an adjective, 'Jag har ingen aning' means 'I have no idea.' It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, but 'ingen' is typically used for common gender singular nouns.

Yes, 'ingen' changes form based on the gender and number of the noun it refers to. 'Ingen' is used for common gender singular nouns (e.g., 'ingen bil' - no car). 'Inget' is used for neuter gender singular nouns (e.g., 'inget hus' - no house). 'Inga' is used for plural nouns of any gender (e.g., 'inga böcker' - no books).

Certainly! For 'ingen': 'Jag har ingen syster' (I have no sister). For 'inget': 'Det finns inget vatten kvar' (There is no water left). For 'inga': 'Vi har inga planer för ikväll' (We have no plans for tonight). These examples illustrate the usage of each form.

Teste-toi

fill blank

Jag såg ____ i parken.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Det var ____ som kunde hjälpa mig.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Han hade ____ pengar kvar.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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