Breakdown of Några av jokrarna ligger kvar i lådan.
i
in
några
some / any (plural)
lådan
the box
av
of, by / from (cause)
kvar
left (remaining)
ligga
to lie (be in a horizontal position) / to be located, be situated
jokern
the joker
Questions & Answers about Några av jokrarna ligger kvar i lådan.
Why do we say Några av jokrarna instead of just Några jokrar?
Några jokrar simply means "some jokers" in an undefined sense. By adding av (of) and making the noun definite (jokrarna), we create a partitive construction meaning "some of THE jokers." This shows we are taking a quantity out of a specific, previously known group of cards.
Could I say Några av jokrar without the definite ending on the noun?
No, in Swedish partitive constructions like this (quantity + av + noun), the noun must always be in the definite form. Because you are taking a portion from a specific, defined whole, it has to be jokrarna (the jokers), not the indefinite jokrar.
Why use ligger kvar instead of just saying they "are" in the box?
Swedish strongly prefers positional verbs like ligger (lies), står (stands), or sitter (sits) over the generic verb är (is/are) to describe where physical things are located. Cards resting in a box are lying down, so we use ligger. Adding the particle kvar gives the phrase the meaning of "remaining" or "still there".
What happens to the spelling of en joker when it becomes jokrarna?
When Swedish nouns end in an unstressed -er, they usually drop the e before adding the plural suffix. So en joker becomes the plural jokrar. Then, to make it definite for this specific group, we add -na to get jokrarna.
Learn Några av jokrarna ligger kvar i lådan 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