Breakdown of Han inkräktar inte på min tomt.
han
he
inte
not
min
my (min/mitt/mina)
inkräkta på
to encroach on
tomten
the yard
Questions & Answers about Han inkräktar inte på min tomt.
If I wanted to change this sentence to say 'He does not encroach on his own lot,' would I use 'hans' or 'sin'?
You would use sin, making it Han inkräktar inte på sin tomt. The reflexive possessives sin, sitt, and sina always refer back to the subject of the same clause. Since han is the subject here, using sin tomt clearly means it is his own property. If you used hans tomt, it would mean he is encroaching on a completely different man's lot!
Does the verb inkräktar always need the preposition på?
Yes, when you specify what is being intruded upon, the verb inkräkta (to encroach, trespass, or intrude) pairs with the preposition på. It translates quite literally to the English concept of encroaching or intruding 'on' something.
Doesn't the word tomt mean 'empty'?
It can, but here it is a noun! The neuter form of the adjective tom (empty) is indeed tomt (as in ett tomt hus - an empty house). However, in this sentence we are using the noun en tomt, which means a plot of land, a yard, or a property. You can tell it is the noun because it directly follows the possessive pronoun min.
As a refresher, what happens to the word order if I put this sentence into a subordinate clause, like 'I know that he...'?
In a subordinate clause, the negation inte moves to before the verb. So if you said 'I know that he does not encroach on my lot,' it would be Jag vet att han inte inkräktar på min tomt. In a main clause like the original sentence, inte comes after the verb.
Learn Han inkräktar inte på min tomt and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free