Questions & Answers about Hur ofta ser du dem?
Why is the verb before the subject (ser du) after Hur ofta?
Swedish follows the V2 rule in main clauses, including wh-questions: the finite verb is in second position. The whole question phrase Hur ofta counts as position 1, so the verb ser comes next, then the subject du, then the object dem. Pattern: Question word/phrase + verb + subject + the rest. Example: När kommer du?, Var bor hon?
Why is there no do (as in do you) in Swedish questions?
Swedish doesn’t use do-support. You form questions by moving the finite verb to second position (or to first in yes/no questions). Compare:
- Content question: Hur ofta ser du dem?
- Yes/no question: Ser du dem ofta? No extra helper like English do is needed.
When do I use de vs dem? I always hear dom.
- de = subject form (they)
- dem = object form (them) Both are usually pronounced dom in speech. In informal writing many Swedes also write dom for both, but in standard/formal writing keep de (subject) and dem (object). Examples:
- Subject: De kommer snart (They are coming soon).
- Object: Jag ser dem (I see them).
- Possessive (not “dems”): deras (their).
How do you pronounce the whole sentence?