Questions & Answers about Det är barnet.
How does barnet mean the child if there is no separate word for the?
Why do we use det here for it?
The word det is the subject pronoun for it when talking about an ett-word, like ett barn (a child). If we were talking about an en-word, like a dog (en hund), we would use den instead.
Are the t letters at the end of det and barnet pronounced the same way?
Actually, no! In spoken Swedish, the t in det is almost always silent. However, the t at the end of a definite noun like barnet is clearly pronounced.
Can det är also mean that is?
Yes! The word det can mean it or that. Depending on the context, Det är barnet can be translated as It is the child or That is the child.
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