1 Reported Speech 2 Tense Changes 3 Pronoun Changes 4 Indirect Questions

B1 Passive & Reported Speech 6 min read Medio

Indirect Questions

Stop treating it like a question; treat it like a sub-clause where the subject always comes before the verb.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Indirect questions turn direct questions into statements by using 'om' (if) and switching to subordinate word order (Subject + Verb).

Use 'om' for yes/no questions: 'Kommer han?' becomes 'Jag undrar om han kommer.'
Keep the question word (vad, var, när) but use statement word order (Subject + Verb).
Add 'som' if the question word (vem/vad) is the subject: 'Vem ringde?' -> 'Jag vet inte vem som ringde.'

Intro Phrase + Question Word/Om + Subject + (Inte) + Verb

Overview

## Overview: The Art of Asking Indirectly

In Swedish, just like in English, we don't always ask questions directly. Instead of barking 'Where is the bus?', we often say 'I wonder where the bus is.' This is an indirect question. In Swedish, these are called indirekta frågesatser.

They are essential for B1 learners because they mark the transition from simple sentence construction to complex, subordinate clause structures.

Why does this matter? Because Swedish is very strict about word order. When a question becomes 'indirect,' it stops being a main clause and becomes a subordinate clause (bisats).

This means the rules of the game change. You can't just stick a question word in the middle of a sentence and keep the same order. You need to master the 'BIFF' rule (which we will cover) and understand when to use the magical word om.

Using indirect questions makes you sound more fluent, more polite, and more precise in your communication, whether you are at a job interview or just chatting with friends at a fika.

## How to Form It: The Mechanics

There are three main scenarios for forming indirect questions in Swedish:

1Yes/No Questions: If the direct question starts with a verb (e.g., Sover du?), you must use the conjunction om (if/whether).

*Direct:* Kommer han?

*Indirect:* Jag undrar om han kommer.

1Question Word Questions: If the direct question starts with a question word like när, var, hur, or varför, you keep that word but change the order to Subject + Verb.

*Direct:* Var bor hon?

*Indirect:* Jag vet inte var hon bor. (Note: NOT var bor hon).

1The 'Som' Rule (Crucial!): If the question word vem (who) or vad (what) is the subject of the question, you MUST add the word som after it.

*Direct:* Vem ringde? (Vem is the subject).

*Indirect:* Jag undrar vem som ringde.

*Direct:* Vad hände?

*Indirect:* Berätta vad som hände.

The BIFF Rule: In a subordinate clause, the adverb (like inte) comes before the first verb.

*Direct:* Varför kommer han inte?

*Indirect:* Jag undrar varför han inte kommer.

## When to Use It: Real-World Scenarios

Indirect questions are everywhere in Swedish daily life.

In the Workplace: Instead of asking your boss När är rapporten klar?, it is much more professional to say Jag undrar när rapporten är klar. It shows a level of linguistic nuance and politeness.

Social Media & Texting: When asking for information in a group chat, you might say Är det någon som vet om vi har läxa? (Does anyone know if we have homework?).

Travel & Directions: When you are lost in Stockholm, asking Ursäkta, vet du var tunnelbanan ligger? is the standard way to approach a stranger.

Dating & Socializing: To be less intense, instead of Vad gillar du?, you might say Berätta gärna vad du gillar att göra på fritiden. It opens up the conversation in a softer way.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent error for English speakers is keeping the question word order. In English, we say 'I don't know who he is' (Subject + Verb), but we often slip up in Swedish because of the V2 rule in main clauses.

Mistake 1: Wrong Word Order.

*Wrong:* Jag vet inte var bor han.

*Correct:* Jag vet inte var han bor.

Mistake 2: Forgetting 'Som'.

*Wrong:* Jag undrar vem ringde.

*Correct:* Jag undrar vem som ringde.

Mistake 3: Misplacing 'Inte'.

*Wrong:* Hon frågade varför han kommer inte.

*Correct:* Hon frågade varför han inte kommer. (Remember BIFF!).

Mistake 4: Using 'om' when it's not a yes/no question.

*Wrong:* Jag vet inte om när han kommer.

*Correct:* Jag vet inte när han kommer.

## How It's Different From... Direct Questions

The primary difference between direct and indirect questions is the clausal status.

A Direct Question is a main clause. In Swedish main clauses, the verb usually comes in the second position (V2), but in questions, the verb often comes first (Verb-Subject) or second after a question word (Question Word-Verb-Subject).

*Example:* Hur mår du? (Word 1: Hur, Word 2: mår).

An Indirect Question is a subordinate clause. In Swedish subordinate clauses, the word order is fixed: Subject + (Adverb) + Verb.

*Example:* Jag undrar hur du mår. (Subject: du, Verb: mår).

Think of it this way: A direct question is a standalone sentence with a question mark. An indirect question is a 'package' inside another sentence, and that package must follow the rules for subordinate clauses.

## CEFR-Level Explanations

A1: At this level, you learn simple phrases. You might say 'Jag vet inte vad det är' (I don't know what it is). You don't need to know all the rules yet, just remember that after 'Jag vet inte', the word order is like a normal sentence, not a question. Use 'vad' for what and 'var' for where.

A2: Now you start using 'om' for yes/no questions. For example, 'Jag undrar om du vill fika'. You also learn to keep the question word but put the person (subject) first. 'Vet du när bussen kommer?' instead of 'När kommer bussen?'. It's about making your Swedish sound a bit more polite.

B1: This is where you master the 'som' rule and the 'BIFF' rule. You must remember to add 'som' if 'vem' or 'vad' is the subject: 'Jag vet inte vem som vann'. Also, if you use 'inte', it must come before the verb: 'Jag undrar varför han inte ringde'.

This level requires precision in word order within subordinate clauses.

B2: At B2, you use indirect questions fluently in complex arguments. You distinguish between 'om' and 'huruvida' (whether) in formal writing. You understand how to embed multiple indirect questions: 'Det är svårt att avgöra huruvida resultatet beror på slumpen eller om det finns en underliggande orsak'.

You use these structures to express nuance and doubt.

C1: Advanced learners use indirect questions to navigate subtle pragmatic shifts. You might use them to hedge statements or to frame academic inquiries. You are comfortable with 'som'-omission in specific literary contexts (though rare) and can handle complex 'preposition + question word' structures: 'Vi diskuterade frågan om i vilken utsträckning regeringen bär ansvaret'.

C2: Near-native mastery involves using indirect questions with perfect prosody and rhythm. You can manipulate the structure for stylistic effect, perhaps using archaic forms like 'huruvida... än' in legal or highly formal Swedish.

You understand the historical development from Old Norse and how it mirrors or diverges from other Germanic languages in its treatment of the 'som' complementizer.

Meanings

Indirect questions are used to report what someone else asked or to express uncertainty/curiosity within a larger sentence. They function as subordinate clauses.

Reporting Questions

Used to tell someone else what a third party asked.

“Han frågade om jag var hungrig.”

“De undrade varför vi var sena.”

Polite Inquiries

Used to make a direct question sound softer or more formal.

“Vet du var toaletten ligger?”

“Jag undrar om du kan hjälpa mig.”

Expressing Uncertainty

Used with verbs like 'veta' (know) or 'förstå' (understand) to show lack of knowledge.

“Jag vet inte vad klockan är.”

“Vi förstår inte hur det fungerar.”

Direct vs. Indirect Structure

Type	Direct Question	Indirect Question	Key Change
Yes/No	Sover han?	Jag undrar om han sover.	Add 'om', S-V order
Question Word	Var bor de?	Jag vet inte var de bor.	S-V order
Subject (Vem)	Vem kom?	Jag vet inte vem som kom.	Add 'som'
Subject (Vad)	Vad hände?	Berätta vad som hände.	Add 'som'
Negative	Varför äter du inte?	Jag undrar varför du inte äter.	Inte before verb (BIFF)

Reference Table

Reference table for Indirect Questions
Function	Structure	Example
Affirmative	Intro + Q-word + S + V	Jag vet var han bor.
Negative	Intro + Q-word + S + inte + V	Jag vet varför han inte kommer.
Yes/No	Intro + om + S + V	Fråga om hon vill ha kaffe.
Subject Question	Intro + vem/vad + som + V	Jag undrar vem som vann.
Polite Question	Vet du + Q-word + S + V	Vet du när de stänger?
Formal 'Whether'	Intro + huruvida + S + V	Vi diskuterar huruvida det är sant.
Object Question	Intro + vad + S + V	Jag ser vad du gör.

Espectro de formalidad

Formal

Jag undrar huruvida Ni önskar deltaga.

Jag undrar huruvida Ni önskar deltaga. (Invitation)

Neutral

Jag undrar om du vill följa med.

Jag undrar om du vill följa med. (Invitation)

Informal

Undrar om du hänger på?

Undrar om du hänger på? (Invitation)

Jerga

Sugen på att hänga eller?

Sugen på att hänga eller? (Invitation)

The Indirect Question Map

Indirect Question

Connectors

om if/whether
som that/who (subject marker)
huruvida whether (formal)

Word Order

Subject first S + V
BIFF rule Inte before Verb

Direct vs. Indirect Word Order

Direct (Main Clause)

Var bor du? Where live you?

Indirect (Sub-clause)

Jag vet var du bor. I know where you live.

Decision Tree for Indirect Questions

Does it start with a Question Word?

YES

Keep the word.

Use 'om'.

Is the Question Word the Subject?

YES

Add 'som'.

Move to Subject + Verb order.

Introductory Phrases

🤔

Uncertainty

• Jag vet inte...
• Jag undrar...
• Det är oklart...

🗣️

Asking

• Han frågade...
• Kan du säga...
• Berätta...

Examples by Level

Jag vet inte vad han heter.

I don't know what his name is.

Vet du var bussen är?

Do you know where the bus is?

Hon frågar vad klockan är.

She is asking what time it is.

Jag ser vem det är.

I see who it is.

Jag undrar om du är hungrig.

I wonder if you are hungry.

Vet du om de kommer ikväll?

Do you know if they are coming tonight?

Han frågade varför du gråter.

He asked why you are crying.

Kan du säga hur man gör?

Can you say how one does it?

Jag undrar vem som har tagit min bok.

I wonder who has taken my book.

Hon vet inte varför han inte ringde.

She doesn't know why he didn't call.

Vi måste ta reda på vad som hände igår.

We must find out what happened yesterday.

Vet du om tåget inte går idag?

Do you know if the train isn't running today?

Det är oklart huruvida projektet kommer att lyckas.

It is unclear whether the project will succeed.

De diskuterade vem som skulle få ansvaret för budgeten.

They discussed who would get the responsibility for the budget.

Jag undrar verkligen vad som fick henne att sluta.

I really wonder what made her quit.

Kan du förklara hur det här systemet egentligen fungerar?

Can you explain how this system actually works?

Frågan är i vilken mån vi kan lita på statistiken.

The question is to what extent we can trust the statistics.

Det råder ovisshet om huruvida reformen kommer att genomföras.

There is uncertainty about whether the reform will be implemented.

Man kan fråga sig vad som egentligen utgör en god medborgare.

One can ask oneself what actually constitutes a good citizen.

Han redogjorde för hur processen hade gått till.

He gave an account of how the process had taken place.

Det tål att tänkas på huruvida tekniken främjar eller hämmar kreativitet.

It is worth considering whether technology promotes or inhibits creativity.

Analysen belyser vari de största svårigheterna ligger.

The analysis highlights wherein the greatest difficulties lie.

Det är en definitionsfråga vad som bör betraktas som allmännyttigt.

It is a matter of definition what should be considered as public utility.

Forskarna tvistar om huruvida fyndet är autentiskt.

Researchers dispute whether the find is authentic.

Easily Confused

Indirect Questions vs Att vs. Om

Learners often use 'att' (that) when they should use 'om' (if) because they are both conjunctions.

Indirect Questions vs När vs. Om

In English, 'if' and 'when' are distinct, but in some languages, they overlap. In Swedish, 'om' is for conditions/questions, 'när' is for time.

Indirect Questions vs Vem vs. Vem som

The most common B1 error. Forgetting the 'som' when 'vem' acts as the subject.

Errores comunes

✗

Jag vet inte var bor han.

✓

Jag vet inte var han bor.

Incorrect V2 order in a sub-clause.

✗

Han frågar om vad du gör.

✓

Han frågar vad du gör.

Don't use 'om' if there is already a question word.

✗

Jag vet inte vem är det.

✓

Jag vet inte vem det är.

Subject must come before the verb.

✗

Vet du när kommer bussen?

✓

Vet du när bussen kommer?

Direct question order used in an indirect question.

✗

Jag undrar vem ringde.

✓

Jag undrar vem som ringde.

Missing 'som' when 'vem' is the subject.

✗

Hon vet inte om han är inte här.

✓

Hon vet inte om han inte är här.

Adverb 'inte' must come before the verb in sub-clauses.

✗

Jag undrar vad hände.

✓

Jag undrar vad som hände.

Missing 'som' when 'vad' is the subject.

✗

Berätta om du kan komma.

✓

Berätta om du kan komma.

Actually correct, but learners often forget 'om' entirely.

✗

De undrade varför hade han gjort så.

✓

De undrade varför han hade gjort så.

Auxiliary verb must follow the subject.

✗

Jag vet inte vem som han träffade.

✓

Jag vet inte vem han träffade.

Adding 'som' when 'vem' is the OBJECT, not the subject.

✗

Det är oklart om eller inte han kommer.

✓

Det är oklart om han kommer eller inte.

Word order of 'or not' is different in Swedish.

✗

Frågan är vad vi ska göra inte.

✓

Frågan är vad vi inte ska göra.

BIFF rule applies to 'inte' placement.

✗

Jag undrar huruvida om det regnar.

✓

Jag undrar huruvida det regnar.

Redundant use of 'om' with 'huruvida'.

✗

Analysen visar på vad som resultatet blev.

✓

Analysen visar på vad resultatet blev.

Using 'som' when the subject is 'resultatet', not 'vad'.

✗

Det är ovisst vem av dem som han valde.

✓

Det är ovisst vem av dem han valde.

Incorrect 'som' usage.

✗

Man frågar sig huruvida inte åtgärden är nog.

✓

Man frågar sig huruvida åtgärden inte är nog.

BIFF rule in formal register.

Sentence Patterns

Jag undrar om ___.

Vet du var ___ ligger?

Jag vet inte vem som ___.

Kan du förklara varför ___ inte ___?

Real World Usage

Job Interview very common

Jag undrar hur ni ser på min roll i företaget.

Texting constant

Vet du om vi ska ses kl 7?

Customer Service common

Kan du se om min order har skickats?

Travel very common

Ursäkta, vet du när nästa tåg går?

Food Delivery App occasional

Jag undrar varför min mat inte har kommit än.

Doctor's Visit common

Jag undrar vad som orsakar smärtan.

🎯

The 'Som' Test

If you can't find a subject (like 'jag', 'han', 'bussen') after 'vem' or 'vad', you MUST add 'som'.

⚠️

No Question Marks

Unless the whole sentence is a question (e.g., 'Vet du...?'), indirect questions end with a period.

💡

Politeness Hack

Always turn direct questions into 'Jag undrar om...' when asking for favors from strangers.

💬

Huruvida

Save 'huruvida' for formal emails or essays; using it at a party will make you sound like a 19th-century professor.

Smart Tips

Pause and swap the verb and the person. Say 'var han bor'.

Jag vet inte var bor han. → Jag vet inte var han bor.

Check if there is another subject. If not, slap a 'som' in there.

Jag undrar vad hände. → Jag undrar vad som hände.

Start your question with 'Jag undrar om...' instead of just the verb.

Kan jag få kaffe? → Jag undrar om jag kan få en kopp kaffe?

Put 'inte' immediately after the subject in an indirect question.

Jag vet inte varför han kommer inte. → Jag vet inte varför han inte kommer.

Pronunciación

Jag undrar var han bor. (Falling tone on 'bor')

Intonation of Indirect Questions

Unlike direct questions, indirect questions have a falling intonation at the end because they are grammatically statements.

[ʊm]

The word 'om'

The 'o' in 'om' is short and sounds like the 'u' in English 'pull'.

Statement Fall

Jag vet inte när han kommer. ↘

Conveys a fact or lack of knowledge rather than a query.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'BIFF': I Bisats kommer Inte Före det Finita verbet (In sub-clauses, 'not' comes before the finite verb).

Visual Association

Imagine a 'som' bridge. When 'Vem' or 'Vad' is the subject, they are too heavy to cross into the indirect question alone—they need the 'som' bridge to reach the verb.

Rhyme

If the question starts with a verb, 'om' is the word that must be heard!

Story

A detective (the Subject) always arrives at the crime scene (the sentence) before the police car (the Verb) in an indirect question. If the detective is 'Vem' or 'Vad', they bring a 'Som' (a sidekick) along.

Word Web

omsomundrarvet intehuruvidavarförnärvem

Desafío

Write 5 things you 'wonder' about your favorite celebrity using 'Jag undrar...' and different question words.

Notas culturales

Swedes value politeness and 'lagom' (just right) social distance. Using indirect questions like 'Jag undrar om...' is the standard way to be polite without being overly formal.

In Finland-Swedish, the word order can sometimes be slightly more flexible due to Finnish influence, but standard Swedish rules are still taught in schools.

In fast Stockholm speech, 'Jag vet inte' often becomes 'Jante' or 'Vette'.

The use of 'om' as a conditional and interrogative marker dates back to Old Norse 'ef' and 'um'.

Conversation Starters

“

Jag undrar vad du ska göra i helgen?

“

Kan du berätta vem som är din favoritartist?

“

Vet du hur man lagar din favoriträtt?

“

Det är oklart vad som kommer hända med ekonomin. Vad tror du?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you were lost. Use indirect questions to describe what you asked people.

Describe your dream job. Explain what you wonder about the daily tasks.

Discuss a mystery or a cold case. What is still unknown?

Write a formal letter to a university asking about a course.

Test Yourself

Choose the correct word order. Opción múltiple

Jag vet inte ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var han bor

In an indirect question, the subject (han) comes before the verb (bor).

Fill in the missing word (om or som).

Jag undrar ___ det ska regna idag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: om

This is a yes/no question, so we use 'om'.

Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vet du vem ringde igår?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vet du vem som ringde igår?

When 'vem' is the subject, you must add 'som'.

Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

undrar / varför / han / inte / kommer / Jag

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag undrar varför han inte kommer.

The BIFF rule: 'inte' comes before the verb 'kommer' in a sub-clause.

Match the direct question to its indirect form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

Matches based on question word and 'som'/'om' rules.

Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Var är nycklarna? B: Jag har ingen aning ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var de är

Indirect question using 'var' and S-V order.

Is this sentence correct? True False Rule

Hon frågade vad klockan var.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True

This is a perfectly formed indirect question.

Turn the direct question into an indirect one: 'Varför skrattar de?' Sentence Transformation

Jag undrar...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: varför de skrattar.

Change V-S to S-V order.

Score: /8

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises

Choose the correct word order. Opción múltiple

Jag vet inte ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var han bor

In an indirect question, the subject (han) comes before the verb (bor).

Fill in the missing word (om or som).

Jag undrar ___ det ska regna idag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: om

This is a yes/no question, so we use 'om'.

Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vet du vem ringde igår?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vet du vem som ringde igår?

When 'vem' is the subject, you must add 'som'.

Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

undrar / varför / han / inte / kommer / Jag

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jag undrar varför han inte kommer.

The BIFF rule: 'inte' comes before the verb 'kommer' in a sub-clause.

Match the direct question to its indirect form. Match Pairs

1. Vad gör du? 2. Kommer hon? 3. Vem vann?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

Matches based on question word and 'som'/'om' rules.

Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Var är nycklarna? B: Jag har ingen aning ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var de är

Indirect question using 'var' and S-V order.

Is this sentence correct? True False Rule

Hon frågade vad klockan var.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True

This is a perfectly formed indirect question.

Turn the direct question into an indirect one: 'Varför skrattar de?' Sentence Transformation

Jag undrar...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: varför de skrattar.

Change V-S to S-V order.

Score: /8

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

Use `om` in 95% of cases. Use `huruvida` only in formal writing or legal contexts to mean 'whether or not'.

In Swedish, a subordinate clause needs a clear subject. When 'vem' or 'vad' is the subject, `som` acts as a necessary support marker.

No, 'if' is English. In Swedish, the word is always `om`.

Usually, yes, to match the main verb (backshifting). 'Vad gör han?' -> 'Jag frågade vad han gjorde.'

Always before the verb! Remember the BIFF rule: 'Jag undrar varför han **inte** ringde.'

Yes, as a subject clause: 'Om han kommer är oklart.' (Whether he is coming is unclear).

It must be `vem som ringde`. Leaving out `som` is a major grammatical error.

Only if the entire sentence is a question. 'Vet du var han bor?' (Yes). 'Jag vet inte var han bor.' (No).

In Other Languages

English high

if / whether

Swedish requires 'som' when the question word is the subject.

German moderate

ob / Fragewort

German puts the finite verb at the very end; Swedish uses S-V order.

French partial

si / ce qui

French doesn't have a 'som' equivalent for 'who' (qui stays qui).

Spanish moderate

si / interrogativos

Spanish doesn't change word order as strictly as Swedish does for indirect questions.

Japanese low

~ka / ~kadouka

Japanese uses particles at the end; Swedish uses conjunctions at the start.

Arabic low

hal / idha

Arabic word order (VSO vs SVO) changes differently than Swedish.

Chinese none

shibu-shi / ma

Chinese has no word order change or 'som' equivalent.

Pronoun Changes

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