Questions & Answers about Min telefon är avstängd.
What is the function of the word Min in this sentence, and why is it not Mitt?
Min is the possessive pronoun meaning “my”. In Swedish, possessive pronouns must agree with the gender of the noun they modify. Since telefon is a common gender (an en-word), min is used. For neuter nouns (ett-words), you would use mitt.
What does the verb är indicate in this sentence?
Är is the present tense form of the verb att vara (to be). It acts as a linking verb that connects the subject (Min telefon) with the predicate adjective (avstängd), describing the state of the phone.
Why is the adjective avstängd uninflected in this sentence?
In Swedish, adjectives used in a predicative position—meaning they come after the linking verb—remain uninflected. The word avstängd describes the state of the phone without needing to show agreement in gender, number, or definiteness when placed after är.
Why is there no article in front of telefon, and how does the use of a possessive pronoun affect noun forms in Swedish?
When a noun is preceded by a possessive pronoun like min, it appears in its indefinite form without an additional article. Although telefon can take a definite form (as telefonen), using min already specifies which phone is meant, so no extra article is needed.