Learn Hardcore Swedish: Min syster har ett problem och bokar tid hos tandläkaren. - My sister has a problem and books an appointment with the dentist.

In Swedish, a possessive pronoun is followed by an indefinite noun. You don’t combine a possessive with the definite ending. So you say min syster, not min systern. The possessive itself makes the noun specific.

How do I choose between min, mitt, and mina?

Use min before common-gender (en) singular nouns: min syster, min bil.
Use mitt before neuter (ett) singular nouns: mitt hus, mitt problem.
Use mina for all plurals: mina systrar, mina hus.

Why is it ett problem? How does problem inflect?

Problem is a neuter (ett) noun. Forms:

singular indefinite: ett problem
singular definite: problemet
plural indefinite: problem
plural definite: problemen Note the plural is identical to the base form.

What’s the difference between har ett problem and har problem?

har ett problem = one specific issue.
har problem = has problems in general or several unspecified issues; it’s generic or plural-like.

Does har here create a perfect tense?

No. In har ett problem, har is a full verb (“to have”). It only makes the perfect when followed by a supine/past participle, e.g., har bokat (“has booked”).

Why is bokar in the present if it’s a planned/near-future action?

Swedish present covers both “is ...-ing” and near future. (Hon) bokar can mean “is booking (now)” or “will book (soon/because it’s arranged).” You can also say ska boka for “is going to book.”

Should there be a comma before och?

No. Swedish normally omits the comma before och when linking actions with the same subject: Min syster har ett problem och bokar ... Even if you repeat the subject (och hon bokar), modern style typically still skips the comma.

Why can the subject be dropped in the second clause?

In coordinated clauses, Swedish often omits a repeated subject: Min syster ... och bokar ... The subject is understood to be the same. If you keep it, use normal order: ... och hon bokar ...

Why is it hos tandläkaren and not på or till?

hos = at/with a person or professional: hos tandläkaren, hos läkaren.
till = movement towards: gå till tandläkaren, ringa till kliniken.
på = at/on an institution/place: på tandläkarmottagningen, på sjukhuset. Here you’re booking with a person, so hos fits best.

Why the definite form tandläkaren when it wasn’t mentioned before?

Swedish uses the definite form with professions/services in set phrases, similar to “the dentist’s” in English. hos tandläkaren = “at the dentist’s (office/practice).” If you mean any dentist, say hos en tandläkare.

Can I say boka en tid instead of boka tid?

Yes. Both boka tid and boka en tid are idiomatic. The no-article version is a common set phrase; with en, you slightly emphasize it’s one specific appointment. Little practical difference.

Is beställa tid also correct?

Yes. beställa tid is also used (somewhat more traditional/administrative), while boka tid is very common in everyday speech. Both are fine in healthcare contexts.

How do boka and ha conjugate?

boka (to book): bokar (present), bokade (past), har bokat (perfect), boka! (imperative).
ha (to have): har (present), hade (past), har haft (perfect), ha! (imperative).

Is the word order with och bokar (no subject) okay? What about V2?

Yes. After och, a repeated subject can be omitted, so ... och bokar ... is natural. If you include the subject, use normal main-clause order: ... och hon bokar ... (subject first, verb second).

Pronunciation tips for syster, bokar, tandläkaren?

syster: y is a front rounded vowel (like French “u”), roughly [ʏ]. Stress the first syllable.
bokar: long o [uː] in the first syllable; k is hard [k].
tandläkaren: ä is long in läk; the d in tand is often light or dropped in fast speech; compound stress (primary on tand, secondary on läk).

Is tandläkare an en- or ett-word? How does it inflect?

It’s an en-word. Forms:

singular indefinite: en tandläkare
singular definite: tandläkaren
plural indefinite: tandläkare
plural definite: tandläkarna

Could I use doktor instead of tandläkare?

Use tandläkare for a dentist. doktor commonly refers to a physician or a title; it is not normally used for dentists. You can say hos doktorn for a medical doctor.

Is och the best connector here, or would så/eftersom be clearer?

och simply coordinates two actions. To mark cause–effect explicitly:

så: Min syster har ett problem, så hon bokar tid ... (“so/therefore”)
eftersom: Eftersom min syster har ett problem, bokar hon tid ... (“because”) The original with och is neutral and natural.