Question 1

Why do we use de som here instead of dem som, since they are the ones being loathed?

Accepted Answer

The entire phrase de som tittaren avskyr acts as the subject of the main sentence (they are the ones who go home). Because the phrase as a whole is the subject, it starts with the subject pronoun de. Even when referring to the object of the relative clause, de som is the standard and most natural choice in modern Swedish.

Question 2

Why are there two verbs right next to each other (avskyr åker)?

Accepted Answer

The first verb, avskyr, is the end of the relative clause de som tittaren avskyr (those the viewer loathes). That entire clause acts as a single noun phrase, serving as the subject of the main sentence. Swedish uses the V2 rule, meaning the main verb must come in the second position. Since the long subject takes up the entire first position, the main verb åker must come immediately after it.

Question 3

Why does the sentence use hem instead of hemma?

Accepted Answer

In Swedish, there is a strict difference between moving towards a place and being located at a place. The verb åker indicates motion, so you must use the directional word hem (going home). If they were already there and not moving, you would use the location word hemma (at home).

Question 4

Tittaren is singular (the viewer). Could we say tittarna (the viewers) instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could say tittarna if you mean a specific group of viewers. However, using the definite singular tittaren is a common way in Swedish to talk about an audience as a collective concept, just like saying 'the viewer' or 'the consumer' in English.

De som tittaren avskyr åker hem.

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