Breakdown of Ställ lådorna i ladan om ni redan har skördat!
ni
you (plural, subject)
i
in
ha
to have
lådan
the box
ställa
to put
redan
already
om
if, whether
skörda
to harvest
ladan
the barn
Questions & Answers about Ställ lådorna i ladan om ni redan har skördat!
Why is redan placed before har in the second part of the sentence?
Because the second part is a subordinate clause starting with om (if). In Swedish subordinate clauses, sentence adverbs like redan (already) or inte (not) must come before the conjugated verb. This is often called the BIFF rule.
The lesson focuses on using the present tense after om, but this sentence uses har skördat (have harvested). Is that allowed?
Yes! While you often use the present tense for general or future conditions, you use the present perfect (har + supine verb) when the action in the 'if' clause needs to be completely finished before the command in the main clause can be followed.
Why doesn't the first part of the sentence have a subject?
The main clause is a direct command, so it uses the imperative verb form Ställ. Just like in English commands ('Put the boxes...'), the subject 'you' is dropped.
Why do we use Ställ instead of another word for 'put' like Lägg?
Swedish verbs for 'put' depend on the object's position. Ställa means to place something so it stands upright. Since boxes have a flat bottom and a clear 'right side up', you usually ställa them. If you were talking about something lying flat on its side, you would use lägga.
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