Demonstrative pronouns | |
---|---|
den/det/de här | this, these |
denna/detta/dessa | this, these |
den/det/de där | that, those |
sådan/sådant/sådana | such |
likadan/likadant/likadana | similar |
densamma/detsamma/desamma | same |
samma (+noun) | same |
Demonstrative pronouns are pronouns that clarify what or who is being talked about. The English words “this” and “these” correspond to two constructions in Swedish: den/det/de här (more common in spoken language) and denna, detta, dessa (more common in written language).
Vi har pluggat hela den här dagen.
We have studied all this day.
If you use den/det/de här (or correspondingly den/det/de där = that, those) remember that the noun is in the definite form (e.g. huset) and the adjective in the a form (e.g. gamla). If you use the denna/detta/dessa, remember that the noun is in the indefinite form (e.g. bild) and the adjective ends in a (e.g. vackra):
Hur ska det här gamla huset renoveras?
Denna vackra bild påminner mig om dig.
The pronouns sådan/sådant/sådana (such) and likadan/likadant/likadana (similar) are used in the same way as adjectives. An article is also often needed in the singular:
En sådan bil har jag inte råd att köpa.
I cannot afford to buy such a car.
The pronouns densamma/detsamma/desamma are used independently, but samma is always used before a noun:
Min lärare är densamma som min syster hade när hon var yngre.
My teacher is the same that my sister had when she was younger.
Jag bor inte i samma land som mina föräldrar.
I don’t live in the same country as my parents.