Breakdown of Jag undrar varifrån den kommer.
jag
I
den
it (common)
komma
to come
undra
to wonder
varifrån
from where
Questions & Answers about Jag undrar varifrån den kommer.
Why use the single word varifrån instead of putting the preposition at the end like in English?
In Swedish, it is very common and good style to combine the question word var (where) and the preposition ifrån (from) into the single relative adverb varifrån. English usually splits them ('where... from'), and while you can do that in colloquial Swedish too (var den kommer ifrån), keeping them together as one word is the standard form you should master at this level.
Why is the word order den kommer instead of the inverted kommer den?
Because this is an indirect question. The phrase Jag undrar turns the question into a subordinate clause. While a direct question reverses the subject and verb (Varifrån kommer den?), an indirect question follows standard subordinate clause word order, keeping the subject before the verb (... varifrån den kommer).
Could I use därifrån here instead of varifrån?
No, because Jag undrar (I wonder) inherently introduces a question, even if it is indirect. You must use the interrogative form varifrån (where from). Därifrån means 'from there' and is used in statements, such as Den kommer därifrån (It comes from there).
If I were to split the words in casual speech, would I use från or ifrån at the end?
You would use ifrån. When you leave this specific preposition at the end of a sentence or clause (a 'stranded' preposition), Swedish strongly prefers ifrån over från. The casual spoken version of this sentence would be Jag undrar var den kommer ifrån.
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