Breakdown of Det finns gott om plats i bilen.
bilen
the car
det finns
there is, there are
platsen
the place
ha gott om
to have plenty of
Questions & Answers about Det finns gott om plats i bilen.
Why is the word gott used here to mean 'plenty'?
The phrase gott om is a fixed expression in Swedish meaning 'plenty of' or 'an abundance of.' It always stays in this exact form, gott om, regardless of whether the noun that follows is uncountable, like plats, or a plural countable noun, like bilar (cars).
Doesn't plats normally mean a 'place' or a 'seat'?
Yes, as a countable noun, en plats means a specific place or a seat. However, when used as an uncountable noun like in this sentence, plats translates to physical 'space' or 'room'. Because we are talking about space in general here, it doesn't take an article.
Why use Det finns instead of Det är for 'There is'?
When stating that something exists or is physically available ('there is' or 'there are'), Swedish uses Det finns. While B2 learners usually know this, it is still easy to accidentally slip into using Det är because of English habit. Save Det är for when you are identifying what a specific thing is.
Why do we use the preposition i (in) for the car, but på (on) for many other vehicles?
In Swedish, you use i (in) for smaller, private vehicles that you simply sit inside, like i bilen (in the car) or i en taxi. You use på (on) for public transport or larger vehicles where you can typically stand up and walk around, such as på bussen (on the bus) or på tåget (on the train).
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