Det är sant.

to be

Breakdown of Det är sant.

• det: it
• sann: true

Questions & Answers about Det är sant.

What does det mean here, and why is it used?

In Det är sant, det means it.

This is a very common Swedish pattern, just like English It is true. The det does not always refer to a specific thing you can point to. It can be a kind of dummy subject or general it.

So:

• Det är sant = It is true / That is true

Depending on context, English may translate it as either it or that.

Why is the verb är in the second position?

Swedish main clauses usually follow the V2 rule, which means the finite verb comes in the second position.

In Det är sant:

1. Det = first element
2. är = finite verb in second position
3. sant = rest of the sentence

This is very normal Swedish word order.

What form is är?