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Questions & Answers about Är barnen redo?
Why doesn't redo get a plural ending like -a to match the plural noun barnen?
The word redo is an indeclinable adjective. That means it never changes its shape. Whether you are talking about one en-word, one ett-word, or a plural noun like barnen, it always stays exactly as redo.
How do we get barnen for "the children" from the singular word ett barn?
For ett-words ending in a consonant, the indefinite plural is the same as the singular (so barn means both "child" and "children"). To say "the children" (definite plural), you add the suffix -en to the plural form, making it barnen.
Is it possible to use redo right in front of a noun, like "the ready children"?
While redo is an adjective, it is almost exclusively used after a verb like är (is/are) to describe the subject, as seen in this sentence. You won't normally see it placed directly in front of a noun.
I see är is at the start. Do all Swedish questions start with the verb?
Yes/no questions like this one always start with the verb, just like in English. If it were an open question, you would put a question word first, followed immediately by the verb: Varför är barnen redo? (Why are the children ready?).