Questions & Answers about Sover någon i sängen?
Why do we use någon here instead of något or några?
Någon means someone or anyone when referring to a person. You would use något for a thing (something or anything) and några for plurals (some or any). Because we are asking about a person sleeping, någon is the right choice.
Why does the sentence start with the verb sover?
In Swedish, you make a yes or no question by putting the verb first. The normal statement is Någon sover (Someone is sleeping), so swapping them makes it the question Sover någon? (Is anyone sleeping?).
The English translation says 'Is anyone sleeping', but there is no word for 'is'. Why?
Swedish does not have an 'is doing' form like English. The single present tense verb sover means both 'sleeps' and 'is sleeping'. You never use the Swedish word for 'is' (är) together with another verb to show an ongoing action.
How does the word sängen mean 'the bed'?
The basic word for a bed is en säng. Instead of putting a separate word for 'the' in front, Swedish attaches the -en to the end of the noun, making it sängen.