Learn Swedish: Ingen besvarade mejlet. Däremot begärde kunden ett nytt möte. - Nobody replied to the email. However, the customer requested a new meeting.

The prefix be- often makes an intransitive verb transitive, meaning it can take a direct object without needing a preposition. Normally, you have to use a preposition with svara, like in the phrase svara på ett mejl. By adding be-, it becomes besvarade mejlet, connecting directly to the object.

Begärde also has a be- prefix. What base verb does it come from?

While it does use the be- prefix, its root is tied to obsolete Swedish words for desiring or making. Unlike besvara, where you can clearly see the modern base verb svara, begära (to request or demand) acts as a fixed, inseparable word in modern Swedish. You just have to learn it as a whole unit.

Why is the subject kunden placed after the verb begärde in the second sentence?

This is a classic example of the V2 (verb-second) rule. The sentence starts with the linking adverb däremot (however). Because däremot takes the first position in the clause, the verb begärde must come second, pushing the subject kunden to the third position.

If I wanted to use men (but) instead of däremot (however), would the word order stay the same?