Log inSign up

Nätterna är mörka på landet.

Nätterna är mörka på landet.
The nights are dark in the country.
From Lesson 145:Irregular plurals with vowel changes (böcker, händer)·Swedish

Questions & Answers about Nätterna är mörka på landet.

How do we get nätterna from the singular word for night?
The singular word for night is natt. To make it plural, the stem vowel changes from a to ä (this vowel mutation is called omljud) and it takes the plural ending -er, becoming nätter. To say the nights in the definite form, we then add the plural suffix -na, resulting in nätterna.
Why is the adjective mörka instead of mörk?
In Swedish, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe. Since nätterna is plural, the adjective must take the plural ending -a, becoming mörka.
Why do we say på landet instead of i landet?
The phrase på landet is a fixed expression that specifically means in the countryside. If you were to say i landet, it would mean inside the country in the sense of a physical nation.
Is landet a plural or singular form here?
Landet is the definite singular form. The base word is land, which is an ett-word. To say the country, you simply add the definite singular suffix -et.

Learn Nätterna är mörka på landet and more in Swedish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Swedish →