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Hon vill inte skriva under något innan hon har läst kontraktet och frågat om utbildning och lön.

Hon vill inte skriva under något innan hon har läst kontraktet och frågat om utbildning och lön.
She doesn’t want to sign anything before she has read the contract and asked about education and salary.
FromLesson 28inHardcore Swedish
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ansöka omansökanheltJag är helt färdig nu.Hon vill ansöka om ett nytt jobb, men hennes ansökan är inte helt färdig.skriva klartJag ska skriva klart mejlet innan jag åker hem.arbetsgivaren

Questions & Answers about Hon vill inte skriva under något innan hon har läst kontraktet och frågat om utbildning och lön.

What does skriva under mean, and why is it two words?
Skriva under is a common Swedish verb phrase meaning to sign (usually a document). It’s made up of the verb skriva (write) + the particle under (under), and together they function like a phrasal verb in English (similar to sign off / sign). The particle is typically kept with the verb: skriva under kontraktet = sign the contract.
Why is it inte after vill in Hon vill inte ...?

In Swedish main clauses, the finite verb normally comes in position 2 (V2 word order). Here the finite verb is vill (wants), so it comes early, and the negation inte typically comes after that verb:
Hon vill inte skriva under ...
This is one of the most common patterns: Subject + finite verb + inte + rest.

Why does it say något (something/anything) instead of inget (nothing)?

With negation, Swedish often uses inte ... något where English might say not ... anything:
Hon vill inte skriva under något = She doesn’t want to sign anything.
You can also say Hon vill inte skriva under någonting (same idea). Inget would more directly mean nothing, but inte ... något is very natural and common in this structure.

Why is innan followed by hon har ...? What’s the grammar there?

Innan here is a subordinating conjunction meaning before. It introduces a subordinate clause:
innan hon har läst kontraktet ...
In Swedish subordinate clauses, sentence adverbs like inte generally come before the finite verb, and you don’t use the V2 main-clause pattern. (This sentence doesn’t include inte inside the subordinate clause, but it still follows subordinate-clause structure.)

Why is the perfect tense used: har läst and (har) frågat?

har läst and frågat are in the present perfect, emphasizing that these actions must be completed before she signs. Swedish often uses the perfect in before/after clauses to highlight completion:
innan hon har läst kontraktet ≈ before she has read the contract.
In everyday Swedish you may also hear present tense in similar contexts (innan hon läser kontraktet), but the perfect makes the “finished first” idea especially clear.

Why is har only written once: har läst ... och frågat?

Because the auxiliary har applies to both past participles. Swedish often omits repeating the auxiliary when coordinating verbs:
hon har läst ... och (har) frågat ...
You can repeat it (och har frågat), but it’s usually unnecessary unless you want extra emphasis or clarity.

Does och link two separate actions, and does it change the meaning?

Yes. och coordinates two completed actions that must happen before signing:
1) läst kontraktet (read the contract)
2) frågat om utbildning och lön (asked about training/education and salary)
It implies she wants to do both before signing.

What does frågat om mean, and why use om?

fråga om means to ask about. The preposition om introduces the topic of the question:
fråga om lön = ask about salary.
Compare: fråga någon = ask someone (the person), while fråga om något = ask about something (the topic).

What does utbildning mean here—education, training, or something else?
Utbildning can mean education or training, depending on context. In a contract/work setting, it often refers to training provided by the employer, qualifications, or a training program connected to the job.
Why is it kontraktet and not ett kontrakt?
Kontraktet is the definite form: the contract (a specific contract). Swedish commonly uses the definite form when both speaker and listener can identify which one is meant. Ett kontrakt would mean a contract (not specified).
Why is hon repeated: ... innan hon har ...? Could it be left out?

Swedish normally requires an explicit subject in each clause, so you repeat hon in the subordinate clause:
... innan hon har läst ...
You generally can’t omit it the way English sometimes can in reduced clauses (like “before reading the contract”) unless you rephrase the whole structure.