Adjectives and their Agreement

In Swedish, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in terms of gender, number, and definiteness. This means that the ending of the adjective will change depending on these factors.

Gender Agreement

Swedish nouns are classified into two genders: common gender (en-words) and neuter gender (ett-words). The adjective will take different forms based on the gender of the noun it describes.

• For common gender nouns, the adjective takes the basic form.
  • Example: "en stor bok" (a big book)
• For neuter gender nouns, the adjective adds -t at the end.
  • Example: "ett stort hus" (a big house)

Number Agreement

Adjectives in Swedish also change their form to match the number (singular or plural) of the noun they modify.

• For singular nouns, the adjective takes the base form.
  • Example: "en stor bok" (a big book)
• For plural nouns, the adjective adds -a at the end.
  • Example: "stora böcker" (big books)

Definite and Indefinite Agreement

Swedish has a definite article, which is added to the noun. Adjectives must also agree with the definiteness of the noun.

• For indefinite nouns, the adjective takes the base form.
  • Example: "en stor bok" (a big book)
• For definite nouns, the adjective adds -a at the end.
  • Example: "den stora boken" (the big book)

In plural, the definite form of the adjective is the same for both definite and indefinite nouns.

Exceptions

There are a few irregular adjectives in Swedish that do not follow the regular rules for agreement. These adjectives have unique forms and need to be learned individually. Here are a few examples:

• bra (good)
  • Example: "en bra bok" (a good book), "det bra huset" (the good house), "bra böcker" (good books)
• liten (small)
  • Example: "en liten bok" (a small book), "det lilla huset" (the small house), "små böcker" (small books)
• gammal (old)
  • Example: "en gammal bok" (an old book), "den gamla stolen" (the old chair), "gamla böcker" (old books)

Remember that these are just a few examples and there are more irregular adjectives in Swedish.

Summary

To summarize, when using adjectives in Swedish, pay attention to:

• Gender: Use the base form for common gender nouns and add -t for neuter gender nouns.
• Number: Use the base form for singular nouns and add -a for plural nouns.
• Definiteness: Use the base form for indefinite nouns and add -a for definite nouns (except in plural).

By understanding and applying these rules, you will be able to correctly identify and apply the appropriate form of adjectives in Swedish.