Questions & Answers about Jag hoppas att datorn inte har ett virus.
Why is inte placed before har here? I thought it usually goes after the verb.
In a normal main sentence, inte goes after the first verb (like datorn har inte ett virus). But this part of the sentence is a subordinate clause starting with att (that). In Swedish subordinate clauses, inte must come before the conjugated verb. This is famously known as the BIFF rule.
Why does hoppas end in an s? Is it a passive verb?
It is not passive! Hoppas (to hope) is a deponent verb, meaning it always ends in an s but has a normal, active meaning. You might remember other common verbs that work exactly like this, such as minnas (to remember) or finnas (to exist).
Why do we use datorn instead of just dator?
Datorn is the definite form, meaning the computer. The base word is en dator (a computer). Because it already ends in an r, it just gets an -n at the end to become definite.
Is virus an ett word?
Yes, it is ett virus (a virus). Many scientific or international words borrowed into Swedish become ett words. Keep in mind that its plural form is also exactly the same: flera virus (multiple viruses).