Swedish Specific Prepositions

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mrbicrevise Wednesday 28th of December 2005 06:24:58 PM
Specific prepositions - I was just wondering whether it is possible to use more than one preposition when referring to something like sverige - one of my older textbooks listed "i svenska/sverige" as the only appropriate proclitic(?), but people seem to use "på svenska/sverige" just as much. Bara tanke jag skulle fråga, i alla fall.

Mathieu Wednesday 28th of December 2005 08:11:24 PM
- Hmm, I don't think I've heard "på Sverige" meaning in fact "in Sweden" - rather in contexts like "syn på Sverige", which, not surprisingly, is "view [i]on[/i] Sweden" ( not "in").
But maybe "på" is used when talking about an island? At least in my language you refer to a geographical location normally with "in" but when referring to an island "on" is used - I'm not entirely sure if that's like that in English as well.

Zaphod Thursday 29th of December 2005 07:22:49 PM
- It is as Teup says, "på Sverige" is not a translation for "in Sweden", but can be used in certain occasions where the English language uses "on Sweden". However, "på svenska" is a translation for "in Swedish" when used in sentences like:
"Säg det på svenska" (say it in Swedish)
"Vad är handduk på engelska?" (What is "towel" in English?)
When "i svenska" is used (not that common), it is used in these ways:
"Jag fick MVG i svenska" (I got an A in Swedish)
"Det finns ingen motsvarighet i svenskan" (There is no equivalent in the Swedish language)

Jolin Sunday 01st of January 2006 09:01:57 PM
Preposistions more generally - Look out for the word "svenska", which may be the language Swedish, the school subject Swedish language, and also the adjective Swedish (svensk or svenska).
Well, yet another translation is a noun; Swedish female.

Preposition usage is not always evident.

For example "I svenska hamnar ..." = "In Swedish harbours".
"Engelska ordet car heter bil på svenska" = "The English word car is bil in Swedish", but "Engelska ordet car motsvarar bil i svenska språket"
= "The English word car corresponds to bil in the Swedish language".

The general usage of prepositions in Swedish is changing over years, so there are in fact a lot of situations where different prepositions may be chosen. The preposition "på" is gaining ground for each year coming, replacing other prepositions.
Example: "A listing of ..." in former Swedish is "En lista över ... ", nowadays you will hear "En lista på ..."

Anyway, replacing "i" and "på" with the word "svenska", will not create misunderstandings.

mrbicrevise Wednesday 04th of January 2006 04:17:57 AM
- Ah, thanks. :)

Phrasebase Archive
	mrbicrevise	Wednesday 28th of December 2005 06:24:58 PM
	Specific prepositions - I was just wondering whether it is possible to use more than one preposition when referring to something like sverige - one of my older textbooks listed "i svenska/sverige" as the only appropriate proclitic(?), but people seem to use "på svenska/sverige" just as much. Bara tanke jag skulle fråga, i alla fall.
	Mathieu	Wednesday 28th of December 2005 08:11:24 PM
	- Hmm, I don't think I've heard "på Sverige" meaning in fact "in Sweden" - rather in contexts like "syn på Sverige", which, not surprisingly, is "view [i]on[/i] Sweden" ( not "in"). But maybe "på" is used when talking about an island? At least in my language you refer to a geographical location normally with "in" but when referring to an island "on" is used - I'm not entirely sure if that's like that in English as well.
	Zaphod	Thursday 29th of December 2005 07:22:49 PM
	- It is as Teup says, "på Sverige" is not a translation for "in Sweden", but can be used in certain occasions where the English language uses "on Sweden". However, "på svenska" is a translation for "in Swedish" when used in sentences like: "Säg det på svenska" (say it in Swedish) "Vad är handduk på engelska?" (What is "towel" in English?) When "i svenska" is used (not that common), it is used in these ways: "Jag fick MVG i svenska" (I got an A in Swedish) "Det finns ingen motsvarighet i svenskan" (There is no equivalent in the Swedish language)
	Jolin	Sunday 01st of January 2006 09:01:57 PM
	Preposistions more generally - Look out for the word "svenska", which may be the language Swedish, the school subject Swedish language, and also the adjective Swedish (svensk or svenska). Well, yet another translation is a noun; Swedish female. Preposition usage is not always evident. For example "I svenska hamnar ..." = "In Swedish harbours". "Engelska ordet car heter bil på svenska" = "The English word car is bil in Swedish", but "Engelska ordet car motsvarar bil i svenska språket" = "The English word car corresponds to bil in the Swedish language". The general usage of prepositions in Swedish is changing over years, so there are in fact a lot of situations where different prepositions may be chosen. The preposition "på" is gaining ground for each year coming, replacing other prepositions. Example: "A listing of ..." in former Swedish is "En lista över ... ", nowadays you will hear "En lista på ..." Anyway, replacing "i" and "på" with the word "svenska", will not create misunderstandings.
	mrbicrevise	Wednesday 04th of January 2006 04:17:57 AM
	- Ah, thanks. :)