Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions do not only bind together clauses of equal status, but also other grammatical units of equal status. The important notion here is equal status.

See the following examples with the most common coordinationg conjunction 'and':

• My wife and I study Swedish. (subject+subject)
• I like ice cream and sweets. (object+object)
• I have to go and clean. (verb2+verb2)
• I study at home and in school. (adverbial+adverbial)
• I am talking and they are listening. (main clause + main clause)

The examples below are all of two main clauses combined with coordinating conjunctions.

’och’ – adds information

Examples:

• Jag bakar och ni äter.
• Jag lagar mat och du diskar.
• Han spelar och hon sjunger.
• Vi går och de åker buss.

• I bake and you eat.
• I cook and you do dishes.
• He plays and she sings.
• We walk and they ride a bus.

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’men’ – expresses contrast, opposition, contrary to expectation

Examples:

• Jag bjuder på kakor men ni vill inte ha.
• Jag knackade på dörren men han öppnade inte.
• Sara är trött men hon går till kvällskursen i alla fall.


• Lars vill köpa en blå bil men hans fru vill köpa en grön.
• Lotta köpte en bil men Per ville ha en motorcykel.

• I'm offering cookies but you don't want any.
• I knocked on the door but he didn't open.
• Sara is tired but she goes to the evening course anyway.


• Lars wants to buy a blue car but his wife wants to buy a green one.
• Lotta bought a car but Per wanted to have a motorbike.

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In English there are three different meanings of the conjunction 'but'. In Swedish only two of these meanings are represented by the conjunction 'men'.

A seen above the examples fall into two categories. The first group of sentences are examples of concessive meaning in the sense of 'nevertheless'. The second group are adversative in the sense of 'on the other hand'.

The third meaning is the so called 'replacive but' and is represented in Swedish by the conjunction 'utan', se below.

’utan’ – used as the replacive 'but' meaning 'in stead of'

Examples:

• Jag bakar inte kakor utan jag bakar bullar.
• Jag bor inte i Stockholm utan jag bor i Uppsala.
• Han kommer aldig sent utan han kommer alltid i tid.
• Hon åker inte med oss utan hon stannar hemma.
• Jag går inte på gym utan jag springer i naturen.

• I'm not baking cookies, but I'm baking buns.
• I don't live in Stockholm, but I live in Uppsala.
• He is never late, but he is always on time.
• She is not going with us, but she is staying home.
• I don't go to the gym, but I run in nature.

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The preposition 'utan'

The word 'utan' has two meanings; the conjunction above as well as a preposition meaning 'without', the opposite being 'with'.

Examples:

• Jag vill ha en varmkorv med ketchup.
• Jag vill ha en varmkorv utan ketchup.

• I want to have a hotdog with ketchup.
• I want to have a hotdog without ketchup.

’eller’ – expressing alternatives

Examples:

• Ska vi äta hamburgare eller ska vi äta pizza?
• Skriv om en plats i ditt hemland eller skriv ett brev!
• Ska vi ha en rast eller ska vi fortsätta utan rast?
• Talar du svenska eller talar du ett annat språk?
• Bor du i stan eller bor du utanför stan?

• Are we eating hamburgers or are we eating pizza?
• Write about a place in your home country or write a letter!
• Shall we have a break or or shall we continue without a break?
• Do you speak Swedish or do you speak another language?
• Do you live in the city or of do you live outside the city?

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’för’ – gives reason

Examples:

• Jag får paket för jag fyller år.
• Jag måste gå hem för jag är sjuk.
• Hon klarade kursen för hon studerade mycket.
• Han måste städa för det är rörigt.
• Jag ska laga mat för jag är hungrig.

• I'm getting presents because it's my birthday.
• I have to go home because I'm ill.
• She passed the course because she studied a lot.
• He has to tidy up because it is messy.
• I will cook because I'm hungry.

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’så’ – gives consequence/result

Examples:

• Jag fyller år så jag får paket.
• Jag är sjuk så jag måste gå hem.
• Hon studerade mycket så hon klarade kursen.
• Det är rörigt så han måste städa.
• Jag är hungrig så jag ska laga mat.

• It's my birthday so I'm getting presents.
• I'm ill so I have to go home.
• She studied a lot so she passed the course.
• It is messy so he has to tidy up.
• I'm hungry so I have to cook.

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Two-part conjunctions can be used for emphasis when there are two items.

The English equivalents are: 'both...and', 'either...or' and 'neither...nor'.

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