Word
Om glaset går sönder, städa upp.
Meaning
If the glass breaks, clean up.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Om glaset går sönder, städa upp.
städa
to clean
glaset
the glass
om
if, whether
gå sönder
to break, to stop working
Questions & Answers about Om glaset går sönder, städa upp.
Why use går sönder for "breaks" instead of verbs like bryter or krossar?
In Swedish, bryta is typically used for snapping things like bones or branches, while krossa means to actively smash or crush something. When an object simply breaks, shatters, or stops working on its own (an intransitive action), you use the phrasal verb gå sönder.
Why is the verb städa used here instead of the present tense städar?
Städa is in the imperative form because it is a direct command. For Group 1 verbs, the imperative is identical to the infinitive. Even though it follows a subordinate clause (Om glaset går sönder), the main clause starts immediately with the imperative verb.
What does the word upp add to städa here?
While städa broadly means to clean or tidy a room, adding the particle upp narrows the focus. Städa upp specifically means to clean up a localized mess or spill, just like "clean up" does in English.
Where does the spoken stress fall on går sönder and städa upp?