Breakdown of Var är kabeln? Jag vill koppla in den.
jag
I
vara
to be
den
it (common)
var
where
vilja
to want to
kabeln
the cable
koppla in
to plug in
Questions & Answers about Var är kabeln? Jag vill koppla in den.
Why is the word order koppla in den instead of koppla den in?
This is the strict rule for particle verbs in Swedish. While English splits the verb and the particle with a pronoun (like "plug it in"), Swedish keeps the verb and particle together. The object pronoun must always come after the particle, making it koppla in den.
How do I know whether to use den or det for "it" in this sentence?
You look at the gender of the noun it replaces. Here, it refers back to kabeln (the cable). Because kabel is an en-word, the correct pronoun for "it" is den.
Could I say Vart är kabeln instead?
No, though it is a common mix-up. Var is used for a fixed location (where something is), while vart indicates direction or destination (where something is going). Since you are asking for the stationary location of the cable, you must use var.
Can I use the English loanword and say plugga in den?
Yes, plugga in is understood and used in everyday Swedish for electronics. However, koppla in (which translates closer to "connect in") is the standard and highly natural way to talk about plugging in cables and appliances.
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