Subordinate Clauses
Learn how subordinate clauses work in Swedish, which words introduce them, and why Swedish word order changes after words like att, eftersom, om, när, and som.
What is a subordinate clause?
A subordinate clause is a clause that depends on another clause to make complete sense.
Unlike a main clause, it usually cannot stand alone as a full sentence.
Jag tror att hon kommer.I think she's coming., I think she is coming.
The subordinate clause here is att hon kommer. It depends on the main clause Jag tror.
Subordinate clauses are often introduced by words like att, eftersom, om, när, and som.
Vi stannar hemma eftersom det regnar.We're staying home because it's raining., We are staying home because it's raining., We're staying home because it is raining., We are staying home because it is raining.
Jag vet inte om hon kommer.I don't know if she's coming., I do not know if she's coming., I don't know if she is coming., I do not know if she is coming.
Mannen som bor där är min granne.The man who lives there is my neighbor., The man who lives there is my neighbour.
Som bor där is a relative subordinate clause which works together with mannen to form the full subject of the main clause.
As discussed in the article about the V2 rule, the finite verb comes after this entire subject and not after the individual word mannen, because the relative clause adds information to the noun phrase.
Full article available to members
The full grammar article explains the different types of subordinate clauses, the conjunctions that introduce them, how Swedish word order changes, and the most common mistakes learners make.