Nu ligger måttbandet på skrivbordet, så vi kan mäta hyllan igen.

Because Swedish uses the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb must come in the second position.

Here, Nu is placed first for emphasis/time reference, so the verb ligger must come next:

• Nu ligger måttbandet på skrivbordet
• literally: Now lies the tape measure on the desk

If the subject comes first, the order is more normal:

• Måttbandet ligger nu på skrivbordet

Both are possible, but Nu ligger ... sounds very natural when you are setting the scene or pointing out the current situation.

Swedish often uses position verbs where English simply uses is.
For objects, Swedish commonly distinguishes between:

• ligga = lie, be lying
• stå = stand, be standing
• sitta = sit, be sitting

A tape measure is thought of as something lying on a surface, so:

• Måttbandet ligger på skrivbordet = The tape measure is on the desk

English usually does not mention the position, but Swedish often does.

Måttbandet is the definite form of måttband.

• mått = measure / measurement
• band = band / strip / tape

So måttband means measuring tape or tape measure.

The ending -et means the:

• ett måttband = a tape measure
• måttbandet = the tape measure

In Swedish, the definite article is usually attached to the noun as an ending instead of being a separate word.

For the same reason as måttbandet: Swedish usually adds the definite article to the noun.

• ett skrivbord = a desk
• skrivbordet = the desk

So på skrivbordet means on the desk.

Also, skrivbord is a compound noun:

• skriv relates to writing
• bord = table

So literally it is something like writing table, but the normal English translation is desk.

På means on here, because the tape measure is physically on top of the desk:

• på skrivbordet = on the desk

This is a straightforward use of på for contact with a surface.

Here så means so, therefore, or as a result.

It connects the two ideas:

• Nu ligger måttbandet på skrivbordet
• så vi kan mäta hyllan igen

In other words: the tape measure is now on the desk, so we can measure the shelf again.

After a modal verb like kan (can), Swedish uses the infinitive without att.

So:

• kan mäta = can measure
• not kan att mäta

This is similar to English, where we say:

• can measure
• not can to measure

Common Swedish modal verbs include:

• kan = can
• ska = will / shall / going to
• vill = want to
• måste = must
• bör = should

All of these are followed by the bare infinitive.

Hyllan is the definite form: the shelf.

• en hylla = a shelf
• hyllan = the shelf

The definite form is used because the shelf is presumably already known from the situation or earlier conversation. Since they are measuring it again, it makes sense that both speakers already know which shelf is meant.

Igen means again.

• mäta hyllan igen = measure the shelf again

Putting igen at the end is very natural in Swedish. It usually comes after the verb phrase or near the end of the clause.

Compare:

• Vi kan mäta hyllan igen = natural
• Vi kan igen mäta hyllan = possible in some contexts, but less neutral and much less common here

So the placement in the sentence is normal and idiomatic.

The comma is mainly a punctuation choice to separate the two clauses clearly:

• Nu ligger måttbandet på skrivbordet, så vi kan mäta hyllan igen.

It helps readability, especially because så introduces a result clause. In everyday Swedish, punctuation can be a bit flexible, but this comma is very natural and standard.

Yes. Swedish forms compound nouns very freely, and this is something English speakers should get used to.

Here you have:

• måttband = mått
  • band
• skrivbord = skriv
  • bord

Swedish often writes compounds as one word, where English may use two words or a hyphenated form. Learning to recognize compounds is very important in Swedish.

Sometimes, but ligger på skrivbordet is the more natural choice here.

• Måttbandet är på skrivbordet = understandable, but less idiomatic
• Måttbandet ligger på skrivbordet = more natural Swedish

Swedish prefers the positional verb because it gives a more concrete picture of how the object is located.

Usually nu means now, but in context it can also mean something like:

• at the moment
• currently
• as things stand now

In this sentence, nu signals a change of situation:

• before, the tape measure was not available or not on the desk
• now it is there
• therefore they can measure the shelf again

So nu is doing more than just giving time; it also highlights the new situation.