Breakdown of Han äter hellre hemma än på restaurang.
han
he
hemma
at home
äta
to eat
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
restaurangen
the restaurant
än
than
hellre
rather / more gladly
Questions & Answers about Han äter hellre hemma än på restaurang.
What does hellre mean and where does it come from?
Hellre translates to rather. It is the comparative form of the adverb gärna (gladly). When you compare two activities and prefer one, you use hellre along with the word än (than).
Why use hemma instead of hem?
Swedish has different words for being in a location versus moving towards it. Because eating happens in a fixed place, we use hemma (at home). You only use hem when there is movement, like walking or driving home.
Why is there no en before restaurang?
When talking about general activities or public places, Swedish often drops the article (a/an) after a preposition. Saying på restaurang focuses on the general experience of eating out rather than one specific physical building, similar to saying at school in English.
Why does hellre come after the verb äter?
Swedish uses a strict verb-second rule in main sentences. Because the subject han is in the first position, the verb äter must be in the second position. Therefore, the adverb hellre takes the third spot right after the verb.
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