Prepositions with Cases: Master the use of prepositions in Swedish, including the associated case of the noun it governs.

In Swedish, prepositions are essential for expressing relationships between different elements in a sentence. When using prepositions, it's important to understand the associated case of the noun that follows it. Prepositions in Swedish can govern different cases, namely the genitive (possessive) case, the dative case, or the accusative (object) case.

1. Prepositions governing the genitive (possessive) case

Prepositions in Swedish that govern the genitive case indicate possession or affiliation. The genitive case is used to show ownership or association with someone or something. Here are some common prepositions that govern the genitive case:

• till (to)
• från (from)
• av (of)
• utan (without)
• förutom (except for)
• bortsett från (apart from)

Examples:

• Min bil är blå. (My car is blue.)
• Jag kommer från Sverige. (I come from Sweden.)
• Jag gav boken till min vän. (I gave the book to my friend.)

2. Prepositions governing the dative case

Prepositions in Swedish that govern the dative case express location or movement towards a specific place. The dative case is used to indicate the recipient or recipient-like role of a noun. Here are some common prepositions that govern the dative case:

• på (on, onto)
• i (in, into)
• under (under)
• över (over)
• framför (in front of)
• mellan (between)

Examples:

• Boken ligger på bordet. (The book is on the table.)
• Jag går in i huset. (I'm going into the house.)
• Katterna sitter under stolen. (The cats are sitting under the chair.)

3. Prepositions governing the accusative (object) case

Prepositions in Swedish that govern the accusative case indicate movement or direction towards someone or something. The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence. Here are some common prepositions that govern the accusative case:

• till (to)
• på (on, onto)
• genom (through)
• under (under)
• efter (after)
• av (by)
• med (with)

Examples:

• Jag skickade ett brev till min syster. (I sent a letter to my sister.)
• Bollen rullade på golvet. (The ball rolled on the floor.)
• Han sprang genom skogen. (He ran through the forest.)

4. Prepositions with multiple governed cases

Some prepositions in Swedish can govern multiple cases depending on the context. It's important to pay attention to the verb and the intended meaning to determine which case is appropriate. Here are some examples:

• i (in, into) can govern both the dative case and the accusative case depending on the intended meaning.
• utanför (outside) can govern both the dative case and the accusative case depending on the intended meaning.

Examples:

• Jag går in i rummet. (I'm going into the room.) - accusative
• Jag sitter i stolen. (I'm sitting in the chair.) - dative
• Bilen parkerades utanför huset. (The car was parked outside the house.) - accusative
• Vi står utanför affären. (We're standing outside the store.) - dative

By mastering the use of prepositions and their associated cases in Swedish, you will be able to express relationships and convey meaning accurately in your sentences. Practice using prepositions in different contexts to strengthen your understanding of their usage.