Learn Swedish: Om någon snarkar, så kan jag inte sova. - If someone snores, then I cannot sleep.

In Swedish, when a sentence starts with an om (if) clause, it is very common to start the following main clause with så (then). It acts as a bridge between the condition and the result, just like saying 'If X, then Y' in English.

Why is the word order kan jag instead of jag kan?

This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action! The entire 'if' clause (Om någon snarkar) counts as the first block of information. Therefore, the verb of the main clause (kan) must come next to take the second position, pushing the subject (jag) after it.

Why does inte come after jag here?

In a main clause, the negation inte usually comes after the verb. However, because the V2 rule forces the subject (jag) to swap places with the verb (kan), the subject squeezes in between the verb and the negation. The order becomes verb + subject + inte.

Could I use något instead of någon here?

No, because någon means 'someone' or 'somebody' when referring to a person. Något means 'something' and is used for objects or abstract concepts. Since only a person (or animal) can snore, you must use någon.