Breakdown of Även om du kör på motorvägen, så måste hastighetsgränsen följas.
du
you (singular)
måste
to have to, must
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
så
so
köra
to drive
följa
to follow
även om
even if, even though
motorvägen
the highway
hastighetsgränsen
the speed limit
Questions & Answers about Även om du kör på motorvägen, så måste hastighetsgränsen följas.
What is the purpose of så in this sentence?
så acts as a resumptive adverb. When you start a sentence with a subordinate clause like Även om du kör på motorvägen, you can use så to neatly link it to the main clause. Because så takes up the first position in the main clause, the verb måste immediately follows it to satisfy the V2 (verb-second) rule.
Is it mandatory to include så here?
No, it is optional. It is perfectly grammatically correct to drop it and say Även om du kör på motorvägen, måste hastighetsgränsen följas. However, using så is extremely common in both spoken and written Swedish because it gives a clear signal that the background condition has ended and the main statement is beginning.
Why does the sentence use följas instead of just följa?
följas is the s-passive form of följa (to follow). Because the subject of the main clause is hastighetsgränsen (the speed limit), the action is happening to it, rather than the speed limit doing the following. Adding an -s to the infinitive creates the meaning 'be followed'.
Could I use Trots att instead of Även om at the start of the sentence?
They are close in meaning, but Även om is a much better fit here. Även om usually means 'even if' and sets up a hypothetical condition. Trots att means 'even though' or 'despite the fact that', which you would use if you were reacting to an established fact (for example, if the driver was currently on the highway).
Learn Även om du kör på motorvägen, så måste hastighetsgränsen följas 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