Breakdown of När tävlingen börjar utför de exakt samma koreografi som vi.
vi
we
de
they
börja
to start
när
when
tävlingen
the competition
exakt
exactly
som
as (in comparisons)
samma
same
utföra
to perform
koreografin
the choreography
Questions & Answers about När tävlingen börjar utför de exakt samma koreografi som vi.
Why does the Swedish sentence end with som vi when the English translation says 'as us'?
In Swedish comparisons with som, you use the subject pronoun (like vi, jag, or de) if the implied meaning has an unsaid verb. It is short for som vi gör (as we do). English often uses the object pronoun ('us', 'me') in everyday speech, but Swedish sticks strictly to the subject form here.
Why is koreografi in the indefinite form? Doesn't 'the same' imply a specific, definite thing?
Yes, it refers to a specific thing, but the word samma is special. It acts as its own determiner and is almost always followed by the indefinite form of the noun. You say samma koreografi (the same choreography) just like you would say samma bil (the same car), never samma bilen.
Why are the subject and verb swapped here (utför de instead of de utför)?
This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action! The entire first clause, När tävlingen börjar (When the competition begins), counts as the first block of information in the sentence. Therefore, the main verb utför must come directly after it, pushing the subject de to the third position.
What is the base form of the verb utför and how is it built?
The infinitive is att utföra (to execute, perform, or carry out). It is built by combining ut (out) and the verb föra (to lead or bring). So literally, it is about bringing something out into the real world, much like the phrase 'carry out' in English.
Learn När tävlingen börjar utför de exakt samma koreografi som vi 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