eftersom

Because/since

Level 2

eftersom means 'because' or 'since' and introduces the reason for something.

How It Works

eftersom is one of the most common ways to say 'because' in Swedish. It introduces a reason for the statement in the main clause.

Key Rule: Subordinate Clause Word Order
The clause that starts with eftersom is a subordinate clause. This means it follows the subordinate clause word order. The most noticeable feature of this is that sentence adverbs such as inte normally precede the finite verb: eftersom jag inte kan komma. An adverb’s role and scope matter; not every adverb belongs in this position.

Compare:

  • Main clause: Jag äter inte. (I don't eat.)
  • Subordinate clause: ...eftersom jag inte äter. (...because I don't eat.)

Sentence Position
The eftersom clause can come either before or after the main clause.

1. After the main clause:
Jag stannar hemma, eftersom jag är sjuk. (I'm staying home because I'm sick.)

2. Before the main clause:
When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause must start with its verb to maintain the verb-second rule.
Eftersom jag är sjuk, stannar jag hemma. (Because I'm sick, I'm staying home.)

A Whole Reason Clause In First Position
Eftersom det regnade is one constituent before the main finite verb tog. The verb regnade belongs to the subordinate clause and does not occupy the main clause’s V2 position. Commas can mark a longer or detached clause boundary; the presence of eftersom does not itself require one.

Eftersom gives a reason or grounds for a statement, not temporal “since” in the sense of starting at a past date. For “since 2020”, use sedan 2020.

Examples (4)

  1. Jag kan inte komma till festen, eftersom jag måste jobba.

    I can't come to the party, because I have to work.

    Word by Word: I can not come to the-party, because I must work.

  2. Eftersom det regnade, tog vi en taxi.

    Since it was raining, we took a taxi.

    Word by Word: Because it rained, took we a taxi.

    When the 'eftersom' clause starts the sentence, the main clause begins with the verb ('tog') to follow the V2 rule.

  3. Vi köpte glass eftersom barnen var snälla.

    We bought ice cream because the children were good.

    Word by Word: We bought ice-cream because the-children were nice.

  4. Hon pratar flytande tyska, eftersom hon bodde i Berlin i tio år.

    She speaks fluent German because she lived in Berlin for ten years.

    Word by Word: She speaks fluent German, because she lived in Berlin for ten years.

Common Mistakes

  • Using main clause word order after 'eftersom'.

    Jag kommer inte eftersom jag har inte tid.
    Jag kommer inte eftersom jag inte har tid.

    Use the ordinary subordinate order eftersom jag inte har tid: sentence negation inte precedes finite har. The main clause has Jag kommer inte, with finite kommer before inte.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

eftersomLevel 2Because/since

Learn This First

To use 'eftersom' correctly, you need to understand how to structure a basic sentence and how Swedish handles subordinate clauses. Since 'eftersom' is a subordinator, it triggers a specific word order (BIFF-rule) where the negation or sentence adverb comes before the verb, which is a concept first introduced in 'att-clause word order'.

Words in This Pattern

eftersom