Breakdown of Bilen är trasig. Alltså tar jag bussen.
jag
I
vara
to be
bilen
the car
ta
to take
bussen
the bus
trasig
broken
alltså
therefore (thus, in other words)
Questions & Answers about Bilen är trasig. Alltså tar jag bussen.
Why is it Alltså tar jag and not Alltså jag tar?
Alltså (therefore) is a conjunctive adverb, not a regular conjunction like och (and) or men (but). When you start a sentence with an adverb like this, the Swedish V2 (verb-second) rule applies. The verb tar must be the second element in the sentence, which pushes the subject jag to the third spot.
Wait, doesn't alltså mean "also"?
No, that is a very common false friend for English speakers! Alltså means "therefore", "thus", or "so" (drawing a conclusion). If you want to say "also", you should use också or dessutom (furthermore/besides).
Could I combine these into one sentence with a comma: Bilen är trasig, alltså tar jag bussen?
Yes, you can. Alltså can either start a brand new sentence or follow a comma to connect two clauses. Just remember that even after a comma, it still acts as the first element of its own clause, so the V2 rule still requires the verb to come right after it (..., alltså tar jag...).
Can I use trasig for anything that is broken, like a broken arm?
No, trasig is mostly used for physical objects that are damaged, out of order, or torn (like a car, a phone, or a pair of jeans). For a broken bone, you would use bruten (from the verb att bryta), and for abstract things like a broken promise, you use brutet löfte.
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