Breakdown of Är alla ombord på kryssningen nu?
vara
to be
nu
now
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
alla
all
Questions & Answers about Är alla ombord på kryssningen nu?
Why does this sentence use "alla" instead of "var och en" if both mean "everyone"?
While both can translate to "everyone", alla refers to the entire group as a collective whole (all of them). Var och en means "each one" or "each and every one", focusing on the individuals. Since we just want to know if the collective group has boarded, alla is the most natural choice here.
English uses the singular for "everyone" ("Is everyone..."). Is "alla" singular or plural in Swedish?
Alla is grammatically plural in Swedish, functioning more like "all" in English. While the verb är doesn't change form based on singular or plural, you must remember that alla is plural when adding adjectives. For example, if you asked "Is everyone ready?", you would use the plural adjective form: Är alla klara?
Why do we need the preposition "på" after "ombord"?
The word ombord means "aboard" or "on board." To connect it to a specific vehicle or vessel, you must use the preposition på (on). So, ombord på kryssningen literally translates to "on board on the cruise."