Learn Hardcore Swedish: På arbetsplatsen finns en regel: samtal i mobilen är inte tillåtna under mötet. - At the workplace there is a rule: calls on the mobile are not allowed during the meeting.

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/).