Breakdown of Katten klöser inga barn.
barnet
the child
katten
the cat
inga
no (plural)
klösa
to scratch (with claws)
Questions & Answers about Katten klöser inga barn.
How would the word order change if we added the word kanske to the beginning of this sentence?
Normally, Swedish uses V2 (verb second) word order, so starting a sentence with an adverb would force the subject and verb to swap. However, kanske is a famous exception! It can trigger V3 (verb third) word order in a main clause, meaning the subject stays before the verb. So you can actually say Kanske katten klöser inga barn.
Why is it inga barn instead of ingen barn or inget barn?
The word barn (child) is an ett word, and its indefinite plural form is identical to the singular: barn. Since the translation says "no children" (plural), we have to use the plural form of the negative article, which is inga. If the sentence meant "no child" in the singular, it would be inget barn.
What is the difference between klöser and river, which can both mean to scratch?
Klöser specifically means to scratch with claws, which makes it the perfect and most natural verb for a cat or a bear. River is a more general word for scratching or tearing, often used when humans scratch an itch or when a thorny branch scratches your arm.
Could I say Katten klöser inte några barn instead of using inga?