A2 Swedish GrammarAdjective Endings
Learn how Swedish adjectives change form based on gender, number, and definiteness. Master the basic forms (en-word, ett-word, plural) and the definite forms used after 'den/det/de' and possessives. Essential for accurate description.
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1Adjective Agreement: En, Ett, and Plural
Swedish adjectives take different endings depending on the noun they describe. The basic form is used with en-words, add -t for ett-words, and add -a for plural nouns. This applies when the adjective comes before an indefinite noun.
Basic Adjective Endings
| Gender | Ending | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| en-word | basic form | en stor bil | a big car |
| ett-word | + t | ett stort hus | a big house |
| plural | + a | stora bilar | big cars |
| plural | + a | stora hus | big houses |
Examples
en vacker dag
a beautiful day
en-word: basic form vacker
ett vackert land
a beautiful country
ett-word: vacker + t
vackra blommor
beautiful flowers
plural: vacker → vackra
en ny bok, ett nytt bord
a new book, a new table
ny → nytt (double consonant before -t)
2Definite Form: The '-a' Ending
When describing a definite noun (with den/det/de or possessives), Swedish adjectives take the -a ending regardless of gender or number. This is called the 'weak' or 'definite' form. The structure is: den/det/de + adjective-a + definite noun.
Definite Adjective Forms
| Indefinite | Definite | English |
|---|---|---|
| en stor bil | den stora bilen | the big car |
| ett stort hus | det stora huset | the big house |
| stora bilar | de stora bilarna | the big cars |
| min ny bok | min nya bok | my new book |
Examples
den röda bilen
the red car
den + röda (not röd)
det gamla huset
the old house
det + gamla + definite noun
de unga barnen
the young children
de + unga + definite noun
min nya dator
my new computer
After possessive: -a ending
3Irregular Adjective Forms
Some common adjectives have irregular forms. Adjectives ending in -en drop the 'e' before adding -t. Adjectives ending in unstressed -el, -er drop the 'e'. 'Liten' (small) is highly irregular: liten/litet/lilla/små.
Irregular Adjectives
| Basic | En-word | Ett-word | Plural/Definite |
|---|---|---|---|
| liten | liten | litet | små / lilla |
| gammal | gammal | gammalt | gamla |
| vacker | vacker | vackert | vackra |
| enkel | enkel | enkelt | enkla |
Examples
en liten flicka, ett litet barn
a small girl, a small child
liten/litet in indefinite
den lilla flickan, de små barnen
the small girl, the small children
lilla (singular), små (plural)
ett enkelt svar
a simple answer
enkel → enkelt (drops -e)
en öppen dörr, öppna dörrar
an open door, open doors
öppen → öppna
4Adjectives as Predicates
When adjectives come after the verb 'är' (is/are), they still agree with the noun in gender and number, but don't take the definite -a form. This is the 'predicative' position: Huset är stort (The house is big), not 'stora'.
Predicative Adjectives
| Subject | Adjective | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| en-word | basic | Bilen är stor. | The car is big. |
| ett-word | + t | Huset är stort. | The house is big. |
| plural | + a | Bilarna är stora. | The cars are big. |
| person | basic/a | Han är glad. | He is happy. |
Examples
Filmen var intressant.
The movie was interesting.
en-word: basic form
Rummet är litet.
The room is small.
ett-word: litet
Böckerna är dyra.
The books are expensive.
Plural: dyra
Hon är trött.
She is tired.
With people: basic form
Practice Exercises
4 exercises
'a big house' (ett-word): ett ___ hus
'the red car' (definite): den ___ bilen
'my new computer' (possessive): min ___ dator
'a small child' (ett-word): ett ___ barn
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