Breakdown of Ju mindre kaffe jag dricker på kvällen, desto bättre sover jag.
jag
I
dricka
to drink
kaffet
the coffee
kvällen
the evening
på
in
sova
to sleep
desto bättre
the better
ju mindre
the less
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swedish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ju mindre kaffe jag dricker på kvällen, desto bättre sover jag.
What does the ju … desto construction do?
It expresses a proportional relationship: “the more/less X, the more/less Y.” Pattern: Ju + comparative + …, desto + comparative + …. Example: Ju mer jag läser, desto mer lär jag mig; Ju tidigare jag lägger mig, desto piggare är jag.
Why is the word order inverted in the second clause: desto bättre sover jag?
Swedish main clauses follow V2 word order (the finite verb is in second position). Since the clause begins with the adverbial desto bättre, the verb sover must come next: desto bättre sover jag.
Why is it jag dricker (not dricker jag) in the first part?
The first part is a dependent clause introduced by ju. In Swedish subordinate clauses, the subject comes before the verb: … jag dricker …, not … dricker jag ….
Is the comma necessary between the two parts?
It’s standard and recommended: Ju …, desto …. Many style guides treat it as required for clarity.
Why mindre with kaffe? When would I use färre?
Kaffe is a mass (uncountable) noun, so use mindre (“less”). Use färre (“fewer”) with count nouns: ju färre koppar kaffe jag dricker ….
Can I say ju mer lite kaffe instead of ju mindre kaffe?
No. Use the comparative form directly: ju mindre kaffe. “Mer lite” is ungrammatical.
Can I use ju … ju … instead of ju … desto …?
Standard Swedish prefers ju … desto …. You may hear ju … ju … regionally or informally, but avoid it in careful writing.
Does på kvällen mean this evening or evenings in general?
In this present-tense, habitual statement, på kvällen usually means “in the evening(s).” For an explicitly habitual feel, på kvällarna is also common: Ju mindre kaffe jag dricker på kvällarna, desto bättre sover jag.
Can I move på kvällen to the end of the sentence?
If you say … desto bättre sover jag på kvällen, it reads as “I sleep better in the evening,” which changes the meaning. Keep på kvällen near dricker to modify the drinking, not the sleeping.
Why no article before kaffe?
Mass nouns in a general sense take no article: dricker (jag) kaffe. kaffet = “the coffee” (specific), and colloquial en kaffe means “a coffee (cup).”
Is bättre the comparative of bra?
Yes. It’s irregular: bra – bättre – bäst.
Why present tense (dricker, sover) for a general habit?
Swedish present tense covers general truths and habitual actions: “When I (habitually) drink less coffee in the evening, I sleep better.”
Can I reverse the overall order of the clauses?
Yes: Jag sover desto bättre ju mindre kaffe jag dricker på kvällen is also correct and natural.
Can I drop ju or desto?
Not in this construction; you need both. If you don’t use it, rephrase: Om jag dricker mindre kaffe på kvällen, sover jag bättre.
Where would negation inte go if I wanted to negate?
It’s usually better to change the comparative instead of negating: Ju mer kaffe jag dricker på kvällen, desto sämre sover jag. A literal … desto bättre sover jag inte sounds awkward.
Any tip on stress and pronunciation?
Ju is typically unstressed; desto carries stress, as do the comparatives: ju MINDre … DES-to BÄTT-re …. This helps signal the correlation in speech.