Questions & Answers about Alla barnen äter äpplena.
How do we get barnen (the children) from the singular word barn?
Barn is an ett word that ends in a consonant (ett barn). These words don't change in the indefinite plural (one child = ett barn, two children = två barn). To make them definite plural ("the children"), you add -en to the end, giving us barnen.
If äpple is also an ett word, why is "the apples" äpplena instead of "äppleen"?
Because äpple ends in a vowel (ett äpple). Ett words that end in a vowel usually get an -n in the plural (äpplen = apples). To make them definite ("the apples"), you add -a to that plural form. So, äpplen + -a becomes äpplena.
I see alla (all) is used with barnen (the children). Does alla always take a definite noun?
When you are talking about a specific group (like "all the children" in a room), you use alla + the definite plural noun. If you meant "all children" in general (like "all children like candy"), you would use the indefinite plural instead: alla barn. Here, we are talking about a specific group eating specific apples!
Why is there no word for "are" in (are eating the apples)?