Breakdown of Väktaren registrerade intrånget, varefter han ringde polisen.
han
he
ringa
to call
polisen
the police officer
väktaren
the security guard
registrera
to register
intrånget
the intrusion
varefter
after which
Questions & Answers about Väktaren registrerade intrånget, varefter han ringde polisen.
What exactly does varefter mean here, and how does it compare to using sedan or efter det?
Varefter literally translates to "after which" (a combination of var meaning "where/which" and efter meaning "after"). It connects the two clauses into a single fluid, formal sentence. While you could stop the first sentence and start a new one with sedan or efter det (e.g., "...intrånget. Efter det ringde han..."), varefter is perfect for formal or official contexts, like a police or security report.
Does varefter trigger inverted word order (verb first) in the clause that follows it?
No, it does not. Words like varefter, varpå, and varigenom act as relative adverbs that introduce a subordinate relative clause. Therefore, you must use standard subordinate word order, which means the subject (han) comes immediately before the verb (ringde).
How is the noun intrånget constructed?
Intrånget (the intrusion) is the definite form of ett intrång. It is derived from the particle verb att tränga in (to force one's way in). The root trång usually means "tight" or "narrow" in Swedish, so the noun literally evokes the idea of squeezing or forcing oneself into a restricted or uninvited space.
What is the difference between väktaren and vakten?
While both can be translated as "the guard", en väktare specifically refers to a professional security guard who monitors, patrols, or protects private property, which fits this context perfectly. En vakt is a much broader term for any type of guard, such as a prison guard, a royal guard, or a bouncer.
Why is it ringde polisen instead of ringde till polisen?
When calling an organization, authority, or person on the phone, Swedish allows you to use the verb att ringa either with a direct object or with the preposition till. Both ringde polisen and ringde till polisen are perfectly correct and widely interchangeable.
Learn Väktaren registrerade intrånget, varefter han ringde polisen 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