Timglaset står bredvid spelplanen.

Because timglaset is the definite singular form of timglas.

• ett timglas = an hourglass
• timglaset = the hourglass

In Swedish, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun rather than written as a separate word like the in English.

Since timglas is an ett-word (a neuter noun), its definite ending is -et.

The basic dictionary form is timglas.

So the forms are:

• ett timglas = indefinite singular
• timglaset = definite singular

This noun is also a compound word:

• tim = hour
• glas = glass

So timglas literally means something like hour-glass.

Swedish often uses special position verbs where English would often just use is.

Here, står is the present tense of stå, meaning stand. Swedish uses stå for things that are upright or positioned in a standing way.

So:

• Timglaset står bredvid spelplanen is the natural Swedish way to say it.
• A very literal English version would be The hourglass stands next to the game board, though normal English would usually just say is.

If you said Timglaset är bredvid spelplanen, people would probably understand you, but it sounds less idiomatic.

Står is the present tense of stå.

Some useful forms are:

• att stå = to stand
• står = stands / is standing
• stod = stood
• stått = stood

In this sentence, står matches the present-time description.

Bredvid means next to or beside.

It is commonly used as a preposition:

• bredvid huset = next to the house
• bredvid spelplanen = next to the game board

It does not change form here. You just put it before the noun phrase.

Because spelplan is an en-word (a common-gender noun), not an ett-word.

So:

• en spelplan = a game board
• spelplanen = the game board

Swedish definite endings depend on the gender of the noun:

• en-word → usually -en
• ett-word → usually -et

That is why you get:

• timglaset
• spelplanen

Yes. Swedish makes compound nouns very freely.

Spelplan is made from:

• spel = game
• plan = plan / field / board / surface

Together, spelplan means game board or playing board, depending on context.

Like many Swedish compounds, it is written as one word, not two.

This is normal Swedish main-clause word order:

• Timglaset = subject
• står = verb
• bredvid spelplanen = place expression

So the pattern is basically:

subject + verb + adverbial/place

That gives:

Timglaset står bredvid spelplanen.

Swedish also follows the V2 rule in main clauses, which means the finite verb normally comes in the second position. For example, you could also say:

Bredvid spelplanen står timglaset.

That sounds more like Next to the game board is the hourglass.

Yes, but the meaning changes.

• bredvid spelplanen = next to the game board
• bredvid en spelplan = next to a game board
• bredvid spelplaner = next to game boards

In your sentence, spelplanen is definite, so it refers to a specific game board already known from the context.

Yes. In Swedish, ordinary nouns are not capitalized.

So you write:

• Timglaset står bredvid spelplanen.

Only the first word of the sentence is capitalized here because it starts the sentence. Unlike German, Swedish does not capitalize all nouns.

Not perfectly natural, because of står.

A word-for-word version would be:

• The hourglass stands next to the game board.

But in natural English, you would usually say:

• The hourglass is next to the game board.

This is a very common difference between Swedish and English: Swedish often prefers a position verb like står where English simply uses is.