Breakdown of Det är kaptenen som tar frisparken och gör passningen.
vara
to be
det
it (neuter)
och
and
göra
to do, to make
ta
to take
som
who / which / that (relative pronoun)
kaptenen
the captain
passningen
the pass
frisparken
the free kick
Questions & Answers about Det är kaptenen som tar frisparken och gör passningen.
How does Det är... som change the meaning of this sentence?
This structure is called a cleft sentence (utbrytning). It is used to put strong emphasis on a specific part of the sentence. Instead of just stating a plain fact like Kaptenen tar frisparken (The captain takes the free kick), it singles out the captain. It translates to "It is the captain" and implies that it is the captain, and no one else, who performs the action.
Since the English translation uses "who", could I use vem instead of som here?
No, you must use som. In English, "who", "which", and "that" can link a clause back to a noun. In Swedish, som is the all-purpose connecting word for this. You only use vem as a question word to ask "who?", never to connect parts of a sentence.
Why does it say gör passningen (makes the pass) instead of just using the verb passar (passes)?
Both are grammatically correct, but gör passningen highlights the specific action or event of the pass itself, much like in English sports commentary. Using this noun phrase also matches the structure of the earlier phrase tar frisparken (takes the free kick), which gives the sentence a very natural rhythm.
Why do the words frisparken and passningen end in -en?
These are the definite forms of the nouns en frispark (a free kick) and en passning (a pass). Swedish attaches the definite article directly to the end of the noun. Because this sentence is about a specific event in a specific game, we use the definite forms to mean "the free kick" and "the pass".
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