Breakdown of Remmen på väskan är av läder.
vara
to be
väskan
the bag
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
av
of, by / from (cause)
Questions & Answers about Remmen på väskan är av läder.
Why do we use på here instead of an s-genitive like väskans rem?
While väskans rem is grammatically correct, Swedish often prefers using på when talking about a physical part that is naturally attached to an inanimate whole (the "part-whole" relationship). This makes remmen på väskan sound very natural and concrete for physical objects.
Why are both remmen and väskan in the definite form?
When you express possession using a preposition like på, both the part and the whole must take the definite form (literally "the strap on the bag"). Compare this to the s-genitive, where the possessed object must drop its definite ending: väskans rem.
Can I say är gjord av läder instead of just är av läder?
Yes, you can absolutely say är gjord av läder (is made of leather). However, Swedish frequently drops the word for "made" entirely. Using the verb vara (to be) plus av followed by a material is the standard, concise way to state what something is made out of. Just remember never to use från for materials!
Why does the word rem get a double 'm' in the definite form remmen?
The root word rem has a short vowel sound. To keep that vowel short when adding the definite suffix -en, the consonant 'm' must be doubled. If it remained a single 'm', the spelling rules would imply a long 'e' sound.