Question 1

How does the passive verb tillåts work here?

Accepted Answer

Tillåts means "are allowed". It is the s-passive form of the verb tillåta (to allow). To form the present tense s-passive, you usually take the active present tense verb, drop the final -r, and add an -s. So, tillåter becomes tillåts. We often use this s-form for general rules and instructions, which perfectly fits a rule about cars in a park.

Question 2

Why is it De stora bilarna and not just De stora bilar?

Accepted Answer

Swedish uses double determination when you have a definite noun with an adjective. You need the freestanding definite article De for plural nouns, the adjective with its -a ending (stora), AND the definite suffix attached to the noun itself (bilarna). English only says the word "the" once, but Swedish requires it on both the article and the noun to show it is a specific, known group of cars.

Question 3

Why does stora end in an -a?

Accepted Answer

Because the noun phrase is plural (bilarna). Adjectives take an -a at the end when they describe plural nouns, regardless of whether the noun is an en-word or an ett-word. The -a ending is also required because the phrase is definite, so stora is the only correct form here.

Question 4

Why does inte come after the verb instead of before it?

Accepted Answer

In a standard Swedish main clause, the verb must be in the second position. This is called the V2 rule. Here, the entire subject phrase De stora bilarna acts as the first building block. The verb tillåts takes the second position, so the negation inte must come right after it.

De stora bilarna tillåts inte i parken.

Breakdown of De stora bilarna tillåts inte i parken.

Questions & Answers about De stora bilarna tillåts inte i parken.

Learn De stora bilarna tillåts inte i parken and more in Swedish