Breakdown of Jag har en vän som cyklar till gymmet.
jag
I
ha
to have
till
to
gymmet
the gym
cykla
to bike
vännen
the friend
som
that
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swedish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Jag har en vän som cyklar till gymmet.
What does the word har mean in this sentence?
In this sentence, har is the present tense of the verb att ha, which means “have” in English. It indicates possession or a relationship, so “Jag har en vän” translates to “I have a friend.”
What role does the word som play in the sentence?
The word som introduces a relative clause. It functions similarly to the English words “who” or “that.” In the sentence, it links the main clause “Jag har en vän” (I have a friend) with the additional information “cyklar till gymmet” (cycles to the gym), specifying which friend is being referred to.
Why is the noun gymmet written with an -et ending?
In Swedish, nouns form the definite singular by adding a suffix. Gymmet is the definite form of the noun gym, translating to “the gym.” The suffix -et indicates that the noun is definite, much like using “the” in English.
How is the verb cyklar used here, and what does it indicate about the action?
Cyklar is the present tense of the verb cykla (to cycle). In this context, it shows that the friend cycles to the gym either as a habitual action or as something occurring in the present. Swedish often uses the simple present tense to describe both ongoing actions and regular habits.
What does the preposition till signify in this sentence?
The preposition till means “to” in English. It is used to indicate direction or destination. Here, till gymmet means “to the gym,” specifying where the friend cycles.