A2 · Elementary Chapter 25

Relative Clauses

4 Total Rules
48 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting your thoughts smoothly using the versatile relative pronoun 'som'.

  • Identify the function of 'som' as a subject or object connector.
  • Construct complex sentences by linking two independent thoughts.
  • Distinguish between essential information and extra descriptive details.
Connect your world with 'som'.

What You'll Learn

Using 'som' to link sentences. This chapter introduces complex sentence structures.

  • Relative Pronoun 'Som'
    Think of 'som' as the universal glue for joining two sentences about the same thing.
  • Relative Clauses
    Think of 'som' as the Swedish 'who', 'which', or 'that' to glue extra info onto a noun.
  • Defining Clauses
    Just use 'som' to connect your thoughts—it's the Swedish equivalent of 'who', 'which', or 'that'.
  • Non-defining Clauses
    Use commas around extra info that isn't needed to identify the subject.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: describe objects and people using 'som' to create fluid sentences.

Key Examples (8)

1

Mannen som jag pratade med är lärare.

The man I spoke with is a teacher.

Relative Pronoun 'Som'
2

Har du sett filmen som alla pratar om?

Have you seen the movie everyone is talking about?

Relative Pronoun 'Som'
3

Mannen som jag träffade igår är lärare.

The man whom I met yesterday is a teacher.

Relative Clauses
4

Huset som vi köpte är stort.

The house that we bought is big.

Relative Clauses
5

Mannen som bor här är snäll.

The man who lives here is kind.

Defining Clauses
6

Boken som jag läser är bra.

The book that I am reading is good.

Defining Clauses
7

Stockholm, som är Sveriges huvudstad, är vackert.

Stockholm, which is Sweden's capital, is beautiful.

Non-defining Clauses
8

Min bror, som bor i Malmö, jobbar mycket.

My brother, who lives in Malmö, works a lot.

Non-defining Clauses

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Don't overthink

If you are unsure which pronoun to use, 'som' is almost always the right choice.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Relative Pronoun 'Som'
💡

Don't overthink it

If you are unsure, just use 'som'. It works in almost every situation.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Relative Clauses
💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink it. 'Som' is the answer to almost every relative clause question.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Defining Clauses
💡

The Comma Rule

If you can remove the clause and the sentence still makes sense, use commas.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Non-defining Clauses

Key Vocabulary (5)

som that/who/which vilken which one person person sak thing beskriva to describe

Real-World Preview

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Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Noun + som + verb
  • Main clause + som-clause
  • Noun + som + verb (no commas)
  • Noun, som + verb, rest of sentence

Common Mistakes

Do not repeat the subject pronoun (han) after 'som' if 'som' is the subject of the clause.

Wrong: Mannen som han är min pappa.
Correct: Mannen som är min pappa.

Defining clauses should not have commas around them.

Wrong: Boken, som jag läser, är bra.
Correct: Boken som jag läser är bra.

Do not repeat the object pronoun at the end of the clause.

Wrong: Huset som jag bor i den är stort.
Correct: Huset som jag bor i är stort.

Next Steps

You have done amazing work today! Take a break, and get ready to dive even deeper into Swedish syntax in the next chapter.

Write a 5-sentence description of your pet or favorite animal using 'som'.

Continue to: Subordinate Clauses

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mannen som bor här.
'Som' is the correct relative pronoun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Relative Pronoun 'Som'

Fill in the correct relative pronoun.

Min bror, ___ bor i Malmö, är läkare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: som
Use 'som' as the relative pronoun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Non-defining Clauses

Fill in the blank with 'som'.

Hunden ___ skäller är min.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: som
Use 'som' to link the noun to the clause.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Defining Clauses

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Min hund, som är vit, är snäll.
Non-defining clauses need commas on both sides.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Non-defining Clauses

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bilen som jag köpte är röd.
'Som' is the correct relative pronoun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Defining Clauses

Fill in the blank.

Alla ___ vill får följa med.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: som
Relative pronoun for 'everyone'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Defining Clauses

Fill in the missing word.

Boken ___ jag läser är bra.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: som
Use 'som' for relative clauses.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Relative Clauses

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mannen som jag såg.
You must include 'som'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Relative Clauses

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Mannen är snäll som bor här.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mannen som bor här är snäll.
The clause must follow the noun.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Defining Clauses

Correct the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Min bil, att är röd, är snabb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Min bil, som är röd, är snabb.
Use 'som' instead of 'att'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Non-defining Clauses

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, 'som' is universal and works for people, animals, and objects.
No, in Swedish relative clauses, 'som' is mandatory.
No, in standard Swedish, you must always include 'som'.
No, it is used for both people and things.
Yes, but 'som' is much more common and natural in defining clauses.
Yes, it never changes for gender or number.
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The Passive Voice
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Subordinate Clauses
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