……
Breakdown of På arbetsplatsen finns en regel: samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtna under mötet.
vara
to be
i
in
en
a
inte
not
på
at
finnas
to exist
mötet
the meeting
mobilen
the mobile phone
under
during
arbetsplatsen
the workplace
regeln
the rule
samtalet
the call
tillåten
allowed
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swedish grammar?”
Swedish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SwedishMaster Swedish — from På arbetsplatsen finns en regel: samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtna under mötet to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
More from this lesson
Questions & Answers about På arbetsplatsen finns en regel: samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtna under mötet.
Why is it the definite form arbetsplatsen (“the workplace”) and not just arbetsplats?
Swedish often uses the definite form for known, specific locations or institutions: på arbetsplatsen, i skolan, på jobbet. It means “at the (our/that) workplace” rather than “at a workplace.” If you want “at a workplace (any workplace),” say på en arbetsplats.
What’s going on with the word order På arbetsplatsen finns en regel?
Swedish main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in second position. The adverbial På arbetsplatsen is placed first, so the verb finns must come second. A neutral alternative is Det finns en regel på arbetsplatsen.
Do we need the dummy det here? Can I say På arbetsplatsen finns det en regel?
Yes. Both are correct:
- På arbetsplatsen finns en regel. (more compact, a bit written/formal)
- På arbetsplatsen finns det en regel. (very common, natural) They mean the same thing.
Why use finns instead of är?
Finns (from finnas) expresses existence—“there is/are.” Saying På arbetsplatsen är en regel is ungrammatical. Use existential finns or the pattern Det finns …
What does the colon do, and is it okay that samtal after it is lowercase?
The colon introduces an explanation or specification of the rule. Swedish typically uses lowercase after a colon unless it starts a quotation or a proper noun, so lowercase samtal is correct.
Is samtal singular or plural in samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtna?
Plural. The noun samtal can be either singular or plural in form, but the adjective tillåtna is plural, which disambiguates it. So it means “calls/conversations in the mobile phone are not allowed.”
Why does the adjective end in -a: tillåtna?
Adjectives agree with the noun:
- Singular common gender: tillåten
- Singular neuter: tillåtet
- Plural (and all definite plurals): tillåtna Here, plural samtal → tillåtna.
How would it look if we made it singular?
Ett samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtet under mötet. (Singular neuter noun → tillåtet.)
Why is it singular definite i mobilen if the rule applies to all phones?
Swedish often uses the generic definite singular for categories/devices: i mobilen, i telefonen, på datorn. It refers to the type in general, not literally one specific phone. You could say plural (i mobiler) to emphasize “mobile phones” as a class, but it’s not necessary.
Can I say på mobilen instead of i mobilen?
You’ll hear both. Typical nuance:
- i mobilen: using/doing something “in/on the phone” (very idiomatic for calls).
- på mobilen: often for content located “on the phone” (apps, files), though many speakers use it broadly. Here, samtal i mobilen is the safest idiomatic choice.
Could we say är förbjudna instead of är inte tillåtna?
Yes. Är förbjudna is stronger and more direct (“are forbidden”). Är inte tillåtna is a bit softer/neutral (“are not allowed”). Both are correct.
Could we use the passive tillåts inte?
Yes: Samtal i mobilen tillåts inte under mötet. That’s a dynamic/passive formulation and can sound more formal or regulatory. The original is a stative description of what the rule permits.
Does under mötet mean one specific meeting or meetings in general?
Literally it’s “during the meeting,” so it most naturally refers to a specific meeting in context. For a general rule, many would write under möten or vid möten (“during/at meetings”). All are possible depending on intent.
What are the genders and common forms of these nouns?
- arbetsplats (en): arbetsplatsen, arbetsplatser, arbetsplatserna
- regel (en): regeln, regler, reglerna
- mobil (en): mobilen, mobiler, mobilerna
- möte (ett): mötet, möten, mötena
- samtal (ett): samtalet, samtal, samtalen
Where does inte go here? Could it go elsewhere?
In a main clause, inte follows the finite verb: är inte tillåtna. You wouldn’t say är tillåtna inte. In a subordinate clause, inte comes before the verb: att samtal i mobilen inte är tillåtna.
Can I say På jobbet instead of På arbetsplatsen?
Yes. På jobbet is very idiomatic and a bit more colloquial. På arbetsplatsen is neutral/formal and slightly more specific to the physical workplace.
Pronunciation tips for På and mötet?
- På: å is a long rounded vowel, roughly like the “o” in “taught” but tenser/rounder (IPA: /poː/).
- mötet: ö is like French “eu” or a rounded “er” in “nurse” (BrE). Stress the first syllable: MÖ-tet (IPA: /ˈmøːtɛt/).