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Questions & Answers about Teven är trasig.
Why is it Teven and not a separate word for the TV?
Swedish usually marks definiteness with a suffix. The base noun is teve (an en‑word), so:
- Indefinite: en teve = a TV
- Definite: teven = the TV So Teven är trasig literally means “TV‑the is broken.”
Can I write this with the abbreviation instead, like TV:n är trasig?
Yes. With the abbreviation you add the definite ending using a colon:
- Indefinite: en tv
- Definite: tv:n (also seen as TV:n) The colon is the standard way to attach Swedish endings to abbreviations and letter‑like forms (e.g., cd:n, USB:n). Style guides today prefer lowercase tv, so tv:n is a good default. Spelled‑out teven is also common and fully correct.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
Approximate guide (no IPA):
- Teven: TEH‑ven (first syllable long; like English “tay‑ven” without the y-glide)
- är: like English “air,” but with a pure vowel
- trasig: TRAH‑see (final ‑ig is often pronounced like just ‑i) So: TEH‑ven air TRAH‑see.
Why is it trasig and not trasigt or trasiga?
Predicate adjectives agree with the noun’s gender/number:
- Common gender (en‑words) singular: trasig → Teven är trasig.
- Neuter (ett‑words) singular: trasigt → Huset är trasigt.
- Plural (any gender): trasiga → Tevorna är trasiga.
What’s the gender of teve and what article do I use?
Teve is common gender (an en‑word). Use en teve (not ett). Definite singular is teven.
How do I say “The TVs are broken”?
Options:
- Spelled‑out plural: Tevorna är trasiga.
- More commonly with the compound: Tv‑apparaterna är trasiga. Some people write tv:arna for the plural of the abbreviation, but tv‑apparater is more idiomatic.
How do I negate it?
Place inte after the verb:
- Teven är inte trasig. If you front something, keep inte after the verb: Idag är teven inte trasig.
Can I say Teven är sönder?
Yes, that’s very natural Swedish. Nuance:
- Teven är trasig = the TV is broken/faulty (neutral).
- Teven är sönder = idiomatic, maybe a touch more colloquial. For the event “broke,” use verbs: Teven gick sönder / Teven blev trasig.
What’s a more functional way to say it, like “The TV doesn’t work”?
- Neutral/formal: Teven fungerar inte.
- Colloquial: Teven funkar inte.
- Formal/technical: Teven är ur funktion.
What would the past be?
- Simple past (was): Teven var trasig.
- Present perfect (has been): Teven har varit trasig.
- Became/broke: Teven blev trasig / Teven gick sönder.
How do I refer back with “it is broken”?
Use the pronoun for an en‑word: Den är trasig.
(For ett‑words you’d use det: Det är trasigt.)
Why isn’t there a separate word for “the”?
Swedish typically uses a suffixed article (‑en/‑et/‑na) to mark definiteness:
- en teve → teven
- ett hus → huset You can also use a “double definite” with an adjective: den trasiga teven (“the broken TV” as a noun phrase).
What’s the difference between Teven är trasig and Den trasiga teven?
- Teven är trasig: predicate adjective in a sentence (“The TV is broken”).
- Den trasiga teven: attributive adjective inside a noun phrase (“the broken TV”). In attributive position with definiteness, adjectives take ‑a and you add den/det/de.
Do I ever drop är, like Teven trasig?
Not in standard sentences. You need the verb: Teven är trasig.
Headlines or notes might omit it, but that’s stylistic.
Should teve/tv be capitalized?
As a common noun, it’s lowercase in Swedish: teven, tv:n. It’s capitalized only at the start of a sentence or if you choose the all‑caps style for the abbreviation (TV:n), which many still do, though tv:n is recommended.