Learn Hardcore Swedish: Om du lyssnar nu, kan jag svara på allt. - If you listen now, I can answer everything.

Swedish main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must come in second position. When you front something (here, the subordinate clause “Om du lyssnar nu”), the verb of the following main clause (“kan”) comes before the subject (“jag”): “Om du lyssnar nu, kan jag …”. If the main clause comes first, you get the usual “Jag kan svara på allt om du lyssnar nu.”

Do I need the comma after “Om du lyssnar nu”?

It’s optional in modern Swedish. Traditional punctuation puts a comma between a fronted subordinate clause and the main clause; many contemporary texts omit it: “Om du lyssnar nu kan jag svara på allt.” Both are correct—choose a consistent style.

Could I say “Om du lyssnar nu, jag kan svara på allt”?

No. After a fronted element, Swedish requires inversion (V2) in the main clause. You must say either “Om du lyssnar nu, kan jag svara på allt” or “Jag kan svara på allt om du lyssnar nu.”

It looks like a question when it starts “kan jag …”. Is it?

Not here—it’s a statement. The verb comes before the subject because of V2 after the fronted clause, not because it’s a question. A yes/no question would use a question mark and rising intonation: “Om du lyssnar nu, kan jag svara på allt?”

Why is it “svara på” and not just “svara”?

In Swedish, you typically:

say svara någon = “answer someone” (person as object)
say svara på något = “answer something” (a question, email, etc.) So “svara på allt” means “answer everything (all the questions).” “Svara allt” is unidiomatic.

What’s the difference between “svara” and “besvara”?

svara is the everyday verb: “svara någon/svara på något.”
besvara is more formal and strictly transitive with the thing: “besvara en fråga/ett mejl.” You don’t “besvara någon.”

Why “allt” and not “alla” or “allting”?

allt = “everything” (neuter, mass/uncountable sense). Correct here.
alla = “everyone/all (people or countable things)” (plural). Not correct with “svara på”.
allting ≈ synonym of “allt,” often a bit more colloquial/emphatic. You could say “svara på allting.”

Why doesn’t “lyssnar” take “på” here? Don’t you usually say “lyssna på”?

You use lyssna på when there’s an object: “lyssna på mig/musik.”
Here it’s simply the activity “listen (pay attention)” with an adverb: “lyssnar nu.” If you want to specify the target, you’d say “Om du lyssnar på mig nu …”

Can I move “nu”? What changes if I do?

Yes, but the meaning focus shifts:

“Om du lyssnar nu, kan jag …” = if you listen now (the condition is about your listening).
“Om du lyssnar, kan jag svara på allt nu” = I can answer now (timing applies to my answering).
“Om du nu lyssnar, …” adds a nuance of doubt or mild reproach (“if you really are listening”).

How do I say “If you are listening now” in Swedish? Is there a progressive form?

Swedish usually uses the simple present for ongoing actions: Om du lyssnar nu covers “if you’re listening now.” The progressive paraphrase “håller på att” isn’t idiomatic here.

Could I use “när” or “ifall” instead of “om”?

om = if (conditional). Correct here.
ifall ≈ “if/in case,” a bit more colloquial/regional; it works in most contexts: “Ifall du lyssnar nu …”
när = when (time). “När du lyssnar nu” doesn’t fit; it would suggest a time rather than a condition.

Can I add “så” after the comma?

Yes: “Om du lyssnar nu, så kan jag svara på allt.” The så is optional and often used in speech to mark the result clause. The main clause still follows V2: “så kan jag …”

Is “du” the right level of politeness? How would I make this sound more polite?

Modern Swedish defaults to du. Ni as a polite singular is rare today outside special contexts. To soften the request, you’d usually rephrase the first clause: “Skulle du kunna lyssna nu, så kan jag svara på allt.”

Is there a more direct/imperative alternative?

Yes: “Lyssna nu, så kan jag svara på allt.” Using the imperative “Lyssna” is common and natural; så nicely links the condition to the result.

Could the sentence end with the subordinate clause instead?

Absolutely: “Jag kan svara på allt om du lyssnar nu.” That’s a very natural order in Swedish; both versions are fine. The V2 rule then appears as “Jag kan …” because the main clause starts the sentence.