Breakdown of Hon vet vad symbolen i handflatan betyder.
hon
she
vad
what
i
in
veta
to know (facts, information)
betyda
to mean, to signify
symbolen
the symbol
handflatan
the palm
Questions & Answers about Hon vet vad symbolen i handflatan betyder.
Why do we use vad here instead of som?
The word som translates to "which" or "that" and must refer back to a specific noun already mentioned in the sentence. Vad means "what" or "that which". It is an independent relative pronoun, meaning it stands on its own and introduces the thing itself rather than pointing back to an earlier word.
Why is the verb betyder at the very end of the sentence?
The second half of the sentence, starting with vad, is a subordinate clause (a dependent clause). In Swedish subordinate clauses, the subject (symbolen i handflatan) must come before the verb (betyder). Since there are no other words after the verb in this specific thought, the verb naturally lands at the very end.
Could I use känner instead of vet for "knows" here?
No, because vet is used when you know a fact, a piece of information, or the answer to a question. Känner is used when you are personally familiar with a person, a place, or an object. Since she knows the factual meaning of the symbol, vet is the only correct choice.
How is the word handflatan constructed?
It is a compound noun made from en hand (a hand) and en flata (a flat surface). Together they form en handflata (a palm). In this sentence, it has the definite suffix -n attached to the end because it specifically refers to "the" palm.
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