Question 1

I've always learned that varför means "why" in a question. How does it work here?

Accepted Answer

In this sentence, varför acts as a consecutive relative adverb rather than a question word. It connects the two clauses and translates to "which is why" or "and therefore". It points back to the entire situation described in the first half of the sentence, showing the logical consequence of the ash being thick.

Question 2

Why is the word order varför polisen vill instead of varför vill polisen?

Accepted Answer

When varför connects two statements like this, it introduces a subordinate clause (bisats). In Swedish subordinate clauses, the subject (polisen) must come immediately after the linking word, followed by the verb (vill). If you used the standard V2 word order (varför vill polisen), it would turn the second half of the sentence into a direct question.

Question 3

The English translation says "the police want" (plural), but is polisen singular here?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Swedish, polisen is a singular, definite noun referring to the police force as a single entity (the police is). English treats "the police" as plural, which often trips up learners. If you wanted to talk about multiple individual police officers, you would use the plural noun poliserna.

Question 4

I thought tjock meant "fat". Can it be used for things like ash and smoke too?

Accepted Answer

Exactly! While tjock is the standard word for "fat" or "overweight" when talking about people or animals, it is also the direct translation of "thick". You use it to describe physical thickness like a book or a sweater, as well as dense substances in the air like ash (askan), smoke (röken), or fog (dimman).

Askan är tjock, varför polisen vill evakuera byn.

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