Learn Hardcore Swedish: Båda hennes grannar jobbar sent ikväll. - Both her neighbors are working late tonight.

Båda is used with plural nouns or pronouns (e.g., båda grannarna, båda de här). Både is a correlative conjunction used in the pattern både ... och ... (e.g., Både hon och hennes grannar jobbar sent). You can’t use både directly before a noun on its own.

Can I also say Hennes båda grannar instead of Båda hennes grannar? Is there a difference?

Yes, both are idiomatic. Båda hennes grannar slightly foregrounds the idea of “both,” while Hennes båda grannar slightly foregrounds the possessor. The difference is subtle; use whichever flows better.

Why is it grannar and not grannarna?

With a possessive pronoun like hennes, Swedish normally uses the indefinite form of the noun: hennes grannar, min bil, våra barn. The definite plural grannarna is used without a possessive, e.g., Båda grannarna jobbar sent ikväll, or with a demonstrative: De båda grannarna....

Could I say De båda grannarna? How does that compare?

Yes. De båda grannarna means “the two neighbors,” and it’s definite. It’s appropriate when no possessive is present. With a possessive, don’t add de or the definite ending: use båda hennes grannar (not de båda hennes grannarna).

So why is båda hennes grannarna wrong?

It mixes a possessive with a definite ending, which standard Swedish avoids. With possessives, use the bare plural: hennes grannar, båda hennes grannar. For definiteness without a possessive, use a demonstrative: de båda grannarna.

What’s the difference between jobbar and arbetar?

Both mean “work.” Jobbar (from jobba) is more colloquial and very common in speech; arbetar (from arbeta) is a bit more formal or written. Either works here: ... grannar arbetar sent ikväll is fine.

Does Swedish need a special “-ing” form like “are working”? Why just jobbar?

No separate progressive form is needed. The Swedish present (jobbar) covers both simple and progressive meanings, so it can mean “work” or “are working.” If you want to stress ongoingness, you can say håller på att jobba, but it’s not required here.

Why sent and not sen?

Sent is the standard adverb “late” (the -t adverbial form). Sen is also used colloquially, and it’s the adjective in predicative position (Jag är sen = “I’m late”); it also stands for sedan (“then/after/since”). For a neutral adverb here, sent is safest.

Is ikväll one word or two (i kväll)? And what’s the difference from i natt?

Both ikväll and i kväll are accepted; two words is slightly more formal/traditional, one word is very common. I kväll means “this evening (today),” while i natt is “tonight/at night.” English “tonight” can map to either i kväll or i natt depending on the time of day.

Could I put the time first, like Ikväll? What happens to word order?

Yes: Ikväll jobbar båda hennes grannar sent. Swedish main clauses are V2: the finite verb (jobbar) stays in second position even when you front another element like a time adverbial.

Where would a negation like inte go?

After the subject in a main clause: Båda hennes grannar jobbar inte sent ikväll. If you front the time, keep V2 and put inte after the subject: Ikväll jobbar båda hennes grannar inte sent.

Why not use sina instead of hennes since grannar is plural?

Sina is reflexive and can only refer to the subject of its own clause. Here, the subject is Båda hennes grannar, so sina would point back to the neighbors themselves (“both their neighbors”), which changes the meaning. Use hennes to refer to some woman who is not the subject.

Can I ever use sina with grannar?

Yes, when the possessor is the subject of the same clause: Hon jobbar med sina grannar (“She works with her [own] neighbors”). But not when the possessed noun phrase itself is the subject: Båda hennes grannar... is correct; Båda sina grannar... would mean “Both their own neighbors...,” referring to the neighbors.

Can I say båda två here?

You can, but not inside the noun phrase. Either use a pronoun: Båda två jobbar sent ikväll (“Both of them are working late tonight”), or keep the noun phrase without två: Båda hennes grannar jobbar... Avoid forms like båda två hennes grannar.

What if there are more than two neighbors? Do I still use båda?

No. Båda is only for two. For three or more, use alla: Alla hennes grannar jobbar sent ikväll.

What are the basic forms of granne?

Singular indefinite: en granne. Singular definite: grannen. Plural indefinite: grannar. Plural definite: grannarna.

Does the sentence imply the future? Do I need ska or kommer att?

The present with a time expression often covers near future: ... jobbar sent ikväll naturally means “are working late tonight.” You can add ska or kommer att for emphasis or clarity, but it’s not necessary: Båda hennes grannar ska jobba sent ikväll.

How do I pronounce the vowels å and ä in words like båda, grannar, ikväll?

Å is like the vowel in English “bore,” long in båda. Ä is like the vowel in “bed,” short in grannar and kväll. Double consonants (like nn, ll) usually signal that the preceding vowel is short.

Is the placement sent i kväll fixed, or can I move it?

The neutral order is verb + manner + time: ... jobbar sent i kväll. You can front the time: I kväll jobbar båda hennes grannar sent. Keeping sent before the time phrase sounds most natural.