Breakdown of Vem ska ta över när chefen slutar?
vem
who
sluta
to stop
ska
will
när
when
chefen
the boss
ta över
to take over
Questions & Answers about Vem ska ta över när chefen slutar?
Is ta över a particle verb here, and how should I pronounce it?
Yes, it is! Just like in English, it means to take over a role or responsibility. Because it is a particle verb, you must put the spoken stress on the particle över, while the verb ta is unstressed.
Can I separate ta and över if I add an object to the sentence?
No, Swedish particle verbs are generally kept together. If you added an object like företaget (the company), it would come right after the particle: ta över företaget. You cannot put the object between the verb and the particle like you sometimes do in English.
Why is slutar translated as quits here? I thought it meant finishes or stops.
Slutar does mean to stop or finish, but it is also the most common everyday word for leaving a job or quitting. You might also see the more formal reflexive verb säga upp sig (to resign), but slutar is very natural in spoken Swedish.
Why is slutar in the present tense when the first part of the sentence is in the future (ska ta över)?
Just like in English, Swedish often uses the present tense in time clauses starting with words like när or om even when talking about a future event. You say när chefen slutar, not när chefen ska sluta.
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