Breakdown of Hon stängde av tv:n för att inte störa sin fru.
hon
she
inte
not
att
to (before a verb)
för
for, to
frun
the wife
sin
his/her/its/their own (en-word)
störa
to disturb
stänga av
to turn off
tv:n
the TV
Questions & Answers about Hon stängde av tv:n för att inte störa sin fru.
Why is there a colon in tv:n?
In Swedish, when you add grammatical endings (like the definite suffix -n) to initialisms or acronyms, you attach them with a colon. Since tv is an en-word, its definite form is tv:n. Also note that tv is usually written in lowercase in Swedish.
What is the difference between stängde and stängde av?
Stängde by itself just means 'closed' (like a door or window). By adding the particle av, it becomes the phrasal verb stänga av, which specifically means 'to turn off' or 'switch off' an electronic device or machine.
Why does inte come before störa in för att inte störa?
When you negate an infinitive phrase that starts with för att (in order to), the negation word inte must be placed directly before the infinitive verb. You cannot put it after the verb like you would in a main clause.
Why does the sentence use sin fru instead of hennes fru?
Sin is the reflexive possessive pronoun, which means it refers back to the subject of the same clause (Hon). This confirms she didn't want to disturb her own wife. If the sentence used hennes fru, it would imply she was trying not to disturb another woman's wife.
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