Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel.

The door does not open without a key.

Breakdown of Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel.

• inte: not
• utan: without
• dörren: the door
• nyckeln: the key
• öppnas: to be opened

Questions & Answers about Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel.

Why is it öppnas and not öppnar?

Öppnar is active voice and normally needs an object: someone opens something (e.g., Vakten öppnar dörren). With Dörren as the subject, you want the door as the thing being opened, so Swedish uses the passive/middle form öppnas: Dörren öppnas = “The door is opened/opens (is openable).”
Saying Dörren öppnar would incorrectly mean “The door opens (something).”

What does the -s in öppnas mean?

The -s marks the s‑passive (present tense here). It often has a passive or “middle voice” sense: general possibility/habit or events without naming an agent.
Forms: öppna – öppnar – öppnades/öppnas – har öppnats.

Does Dörren öppnas inte mean “cannot be opened” or just “is not opened”?

Both readings are possible. In contexts like this (with a condition: utan nyckel), Swedish s‑passive commonly conveys inability: “can’t be opened.” It can also be a habitual statement (“isn’t opened [in such circumstances]”).

Can I say Dörren kan inte öppnas utan nyckel instead?

Yes. It’s fully idiomatic and makes the “ability” part explicit.
Nuance:

• öppnas inte = concise, often used for rules/properties.
• kan inte öppnas = explicit impossibility, slightly more formal.

What about Dörren går inte att öppna utan nyckel?

Also very natural. Det/den går inte att [infinitive] is a common way to express (im)possibility and is slightly more colloquial than the s‑passive.

Why is inte placed after öppnas?

Main clauses in Swedish obey V2: the finite verb is in second position. Here:

1. Subject: Dörren
2. Finite verb: öppnas
3. Negation: inte
4. Adverbial: utan nyckel
   So: Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel.

Can I front the condition and say Utan nyckel öppnas dörren inte?

Yes—this is grammatically correct and emphasizes the condition. It sounds rather formal/marked. Many would prefer the more neutral Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel or the colloquial Utan nyckel går dörren inte att öppna.

Why is there no article in utan nyckel? Why not utan en nyckel?

After prepositions like utan/med, Swedish often uses a bare singular noun to express a generic instrument/means: utan nyckel = “without a key (in general).”
Utan en nyckel is possible but tends to emphasize “a single key” or contrast with something else; it’s less idiomatic in neutral statements of requirement.

When would I use utan nyckeln?

When referring to a specific, context‑known key: utan nyckeln = “without the key.”
Example: “You mustn’t leave the office without the key” → Du får inte lämna kontoret utan nyckeln.

Is inte … utan … a double negative?

No. Here inte negates the verb phrase and utan is the preposition “without.” There’s no cancellation like in English double negatives.
Note: utan can also be a conjunction meaning “but rather” after a negation (e.g., Inte kaffe utan te = “Not coffee but tea”). In our sentence it’s the preposition “without.”

Could I say Dörren är inte öppen to mean the same thing?

No. Dörren är inte öppen states the current state (the door isn’t open). Our sentence states a requirement/constraint (it won’t open without a key). To express the requirement, use one of:

• Dörren öppnas inte utan nyckel.
• Dörren kan inte öppnas utan nyckel.
• Dörren går inte att öppna utan nyckel.

What’s the difference between öppen, öppnad, and öppnas?

• öppen: adjective “open” (state). Dörren är öppen.
• öppnad: past participle “opened (by someone).” More natural with events: Dörren öppnades or Dörren blev öppnad (though many prefer the s‑passive: öppnades). For state, Swedes usually say öppen, not öppnad.
• öppnas: s‑passive present, passive/middle meaning (“is opened/opens, can be opened”).

Can I use the reflexive and say Dörren öppnar sig inte utan nyckel?

Grammatically yes, but it implies “the door doesn’t open by itself without a key,” focusing on spontaneous opening. Öppnas is more neutral and standard for rules/requirements.

How do I add the agent (“by” someone) with this passive?

Use av:

• Present/habitual: Dörren öppnas av vakten.
• Past: Dörren öppnades av vakten.
  Often, the active voice is simpler: Vakten öppnar dörren.

Is there any register difference? I’ve seen ej on signs.

Yes. ej is a formal/notice-board word for “not.” On signs you might see: Dörren öppnas ej utan nyckel.
Neutral speech: inte.

Pronunciation tips?

• Dörren: [ˈdœrːɛn] (Ö = rounded front vowel; double r = long consonant)
• öppnas: [ˈœpːnas] (stress on first syllable; long p)
• utan: [ˈʉːtan] (U = long front rounded [ʉː])
• nyckel: [ˈnʏkːɛl] (Y = [ʏ]; long k)
  Front rounded vowels Ö [œ] and Y [ʏ] don’t exist in English; round your lips while making “e”/“i”-like sounds.

How do the nouns inflect?

• en dörr → dörren (def. sg.), dörrar (pl.), dörrarna (def. pl.)
• en nyckel → nyckeln, nycklar, nycklarna
  Plural example: Dörrarna öppnas inte utan nyckel/nycklar.

Would låsa upp be better than öppna since it’s about a key?

Use låsa upp if you specifically mean “unlock”:

• Dörren kan inte låsas upp utan nyckel.
  Our original with öppnas is fine and slightly broader: it won’t open (because it’s locked).