Breakdown of Hon har ett viktigt möte idag.
ha
to have
ett
a
idag
today
hon
she
mötet
the meeting
viktig
important
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Questions & Answers about Hon har ett viktigt möte idag.
What does the pronoun Hon mean, and what if the gender is unknown?
Hon means “she.” If you want a gender-neutral pronoun, use hen. Other subject pronouns: han (he), de (they; pronounced “dom”), den/det (it for common/neuter nouns). In Swedish, pronouns aren’t capitalized unless they start the sentence.
Does the verb har change with the subject like “have/has” in English?
No. Swedish verbs don’t change by person. Present tense of att ha (to have) is always har:
- Jag/du/han/hon/vi/ni/de har.
Other forms: infinitive ha, past hade, supine haft.
Why is it ett and not en?
Because möte is a neuter noun (an “ett-word”). Its core forms are:
- Indefinite singular: ett möte
- Definite singular: mötet
- Indefinite plural: möten
- Definite plural: mötena
Why does the adjective end in -t: viktigt?
Adjectives agree with gender/definiteness:
- Common gender (en-word), indefinite: en viktig bok
- Neuter (ett-word), indefinite: ett viktigt möte
- Definite or plural: det viktiga mötet, viktiga möten, de viktiga mötena
Can I start with the time and say Idag har hon ett viktigt möte?
Yes. Swedish main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in second position. With idag first, the verb har comes second: Idag har hon ett viktigt möte. With the subject first: Hon har ett viktigt möte idag.
Where can I place idag? Are different positions acceptable?
- End position (neutral): Hon har ett viktigt möte idag.
- Fronted for emphasis: Idag har hon ett viktigt möte.
- Midfield (more formal/written): Hon har idag ett viktigt möte.
Is there a difference between idag and i dag?
No meaning difference. Both are correct. Modern spelling favors idag, while i dag is still accepted.
Can I drop the article and say Hon har möte idag?
Yes. Hon har möte idag is very idiomatic and means she’s scheduled/in meetings today. This article-less pattern is common with certain activities: har lektion, har prov, har träning.
How do I say “the important meeting” or “The important meeting is today”?
Use “double definiteness” with adjectives:
- det viktiga mötet = the important meeting
- Det viktiga mötet är idag. You use the definite article (det) plus the noun’s definite ending (-et).
How do I make it plural?
- Indefinite plural: viktiga möten (important meetings)
- Definite plural: de viktiga mötena (the important meetings) Example: Hon har viktiga möten idag.
Is har here an auxiliary or just “to have”?
Here it’s the main verb “to have/hold.” As a perfect auxiliary you’d say: Hon har haft ett viktigt möte idag (“She has had an important meeting today”).
How do I talk about the future? Is present tense enough?
Yes. Present can express scheduled future: Hon har ett möte imorgon. You can also say:
- Hon ska på ett möte imorgon.
- Hon kommer att ha ett möte imorgon.
How do I add a time like “at 3 o’clock today”?
Put the clock time at the end: Hon har ett viktigt möte idag klockan tre.
Order is naturally activity → broader time → clock time.
Any pronunciation tips for the words here?
- möte: ö like French “eu” in “deux”; stress on MÖ: “MÖ-te.”
- hon: o like English “book”; “hʊn,” not “hawn.”
- idag: stress on the second syllable: i-“DAG.”
- viktigt: stress on the first syllable “VIK-.” In many accents the -ig(t) ending has a weak or silent g, so you may hear “VIK-tikt” or “VIK-tit.”
Is there a more formal word for “meeting”?
Yes. sammanträde is more formal (e.g., a board meeting): Hon har ett viktigt sammanträde idag. For an informal meet-up, träff works: Hon har en viktig träff idag (can even imply a date).
How do I negate this naturally?
Use inte, and with indefinites it’s common to switch to “any/no”:
- Most natural: Hon har inget viktigt möte idag (“She doesn’t have any important meeting today”).
- Less natural: Hon har inte ett viktigt möte idag. Placement: inte typically follows the verb in main clauses.
Can I say Det är ett viktigt möte idag to mean the same thing?
Not exactly. Det är ett viktigt möte idag means “There is an important meeting today” (in general). To keep it about her, use the original or say Hon ska på ett viktigt möte idag.