Breakdown of Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu, eller så gör hennes kollega det.
nu
now
eller
or
det
it
hon
she
hennes
her
kollegan
the colleague
boka
to book
biljetten
the ticket
antingen
either
så
then
göra
to do
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Questions & Answers about Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu, eller så gör hennes kollega det.
What does antingen ... eller mean and how is it used?
It’s the correlative pair meaning “either … or.” It links two alternatives and should coordinate parallel elements (two clauses, two subjects, two adverbs, etc.). Examples:
- Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu, eller så gör hennes kollega det.
- Antingen hon eller hennes kollega bokar biljetter nu.
- Hon bokar antingen biljetter nu eller imorgon.
Why is it bokar hon and not hon bokar?
Swedish main clauses are V2 (verb-second): the finite verb must be second. Antingen sits in first position, so the verb bokar comes second, followed by the subject hon.
What does så do in eller så gör hennes kollega det?
så is a connective adverb roughly “then/in that case.” It’s optional, common in speech, and it occupies the first slot so the verb gör stays second (V2). It also makes the clause read like a statement rather than a question.
Can I omit så after eller?
Yes. Two good alternatives:
- Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu, eller hennes kollega gör det.
- Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu eller hennes kollega gör det. (no comma) Avoid starting the second clause with the verb alone: … eller gör hennes kollega det can look like a yes/no question in writing.
Why do we need det at the end? Could I drop it?
det stands in for the whole action “book tickets now,” so göra det = “do that.” Without det, gör hennes kollega feels incomplete unless you repeat the full verb phrase: … eller så bokar hennes kollega biljetter nu.
Can I say gör så instead of gör det?
Not here. göra så means “do like this/that (in that manner),” not “do it.” You want the anaphoric det.
Why is it hennes kollega, not sin kollega?
The reflexive sin/sitt/sina refers to the subject of the same clause. In the second clause the subject is hennes kollega, so sin kollega would mean “the colleague’s own colleague.” To refer back to the woman in the first clause, Swedish uses the non‑reflexive possessive hennes.
Do I need the comma before eller?
It’s optional. Swedish generally uses fewer commas than English. A comma before eller is common here because you’re separating two main clauses and there’s a spoken pause, especially with så. Without så, many writers skip the comma: Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu eller hennes kollega gör det.
Is Antingen så bokar hon … okay?
It’s common in everyday speech. Some style guides call antingen så redundant and prefer Antingen bokar hon … in formal writing. The meaning is the same.
Can I move nu to another place?
Yes, but the default is toward the end: Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu. Other possibilities:
- Antingen bokar hon nu biljetter. (acceptable, slightly marked) Avoid Antingen nu bokar hon …, which sounds awkward.
Should it be biljetterna instead of biljetter?
Use biljetterna (definite plural) if you mean specific, previously known tickets: Antingen bokar hon biljetterna nu … Otherwise biljetter (indefinite) is neutral when the tickets haven’t been specified.
Is boka the right verb for tickets?
Yes. boka biljetter is standard for travel/events, often implying reservation (and nowadays usually purchase). You can also say:
- köpa biljetter when emphasizing the purchase,
- reservera biljetter in more formal contexts. beställa isn’t typical for tickets.
Can I rewrite it to coordinate the subjects instead of whole clauses?
Yes:
- Antingen hon eller hennes kollega bokar biljetter nu.
- Antingen bokar hon eller hennes kollega biljetter nu. Keep the structure parallel and remember V2.
Why not hennes kollegan?
With a possessive (min, din, hans, hennes, etc.), Swedish doesn’t use the definite ending. So it’s hennes kollega, never hennes kollegan. If you drop the possessive, kollegan means “the colleague.”
How do I express future meaning—do I need “will”?
Swedish often uses the present for near future: bokar can mean “will book” from context. You can add:
- ska boka (intention/plan): Antingen ska hon boka biljetter nu, eller …
- kommer att boka (neutral prediction).
Where does negation inte go in a sentence like this?
In main clauses, inte comes after the finite verb:
- Antingen bokar hon inte biljetter nu, eller så gör hennes kollega det.
- Antingen bokar hon biljetter nu, eller så gör hennes kollega inte det.
How is this pronounced?
Approximate pronunciations: antingen (AN-ting-en), bokar (BOO-kar), biljetter (bil-YET-ter), nu (NEW with rounded u [nʉː]), eller (ELL-er), så (soh [soː]), gör (yehr [jœːr]), hennes (HEN-nes), kollega (ko-LEH-gah), det (deh [deːt]/[de]).