Object pronoun shift (den inte)

Object pronoun shift

In a standard Swedish main clause, the negation inte (not) usually comes right after the verb. However, if the object is an unstressed pronoun like den, det, or oss, it shifts to come before inte.

This rule is called object pronoun shift (objektsflyttning). Notice how the pronouns det and den appear before inte when things start vanishing at a magic show:

The magician throws the coin, but I do not see it.
Magikern kastar myntet, men jag ser det inte.
The magician is looking for the rabbit, but he does not find it.
Magikern letar efter kaninen, men han hittar den inte.

Simple main clauses

This placement rule applies to simple main clauses (sentences with only one verb).

The girl borrows the magic wand, but she does not use it.
Flickan lånar trollstaven, men hon använder den inte.
The magic wand lies under the cloth, but the audience does not touch it.
Trollstaven ligger under duken, men publiken rör den inte.

The shift works for unstressed personal pronouns as well, such as oss (us):

We applaud, but the magician does not hear us.
Vi applåderar, men magikern hör oss inte.

Magic show vocabulary

To talk about a magic show, you will also encounter verbs like trolla (to perform magic) and adjectives like osynlig (invisible).

When the magician performs magic, the coin becomes invisible.
När magikern trollar blir myntet osynligt.
The trick is strange, and the audience does not understand it.
Tricket är konstigt, och publiken förstår det inte.
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