förutom att
Besides/except That
Use förutom att to say 'besides/except that'. It connects a main clause with a subordinate clause that adds information or states an exception.
How It Works
förutom att is a versatile conjunction used to connect a main clause with a subordinate clause. It has two primary meanings:
1. Addition (Besides the fact that...)
It can add another piece of information to what's stated in the main clause. In this sense, it's similar to 'in addition to the fact that'.
- Förutom att han är smart, är han också väldigt snäll. (Besides being smart, he is also very kind.)
2. Exception (Except for the fact that...)
It can also introduce an exception or a contrasting point to the main clause.
- Allt var perfekt, förutom att det regnade. (Everything was perfect, except that it rained.)
Grammatical Structure
In the finite-clause use, the clause follows ordinary subordinate clause word order. In the ordinary pattern, a sentence adverb stands before the finite verb: jag inte gillar. Being after the subject alone does not define the BIFF rule.
- Correct: ...förutom att jag inte gillar fisk. (...except that I don't like fish.)
When the förutom att-clause starts the sentence, the main clause must follow the V2 inversion rule, with the verb coming in the second position.
- Förutom att museet var öppet, var inträdet gratis. (Besides the museum being open, admission was free.)
An infinitive is also possible: Förutom att laga mat måste jag handla (Besides cooking, I have to shop). Here att marks an infinitive, so there is no finite verb to position by BIFF. The addition/exception meaning comes from förutom and the context. To say despite rather than except or besides, choose trots att.
Examples (4)
- Allt var perfekt, förutom att det regnade lite.
Everything was perfect, except that it rained a little.
Word by Word: Everything was perfect, besides that it rained a little.
- Förutom att han är rolig, är han också väldigt intelligent.
Besides being funny, he is also very intelligent.
Word by Word: Besides that he is funny, is he also very intelligent.
When the 'förutom att' clause starts the sentence, the main clause verb ('är') comes second, following the V2 inversion rule.
- Jag kan äta nästan vad som helst, förutom att jag inte tycker om oliver.
I can eat almost anything, except that I don't like olives.
Word by Word: I can eat almost what that ever, besides that I not like olives.
Inte precedes the finite verb tycker in ordinary subordinate order: jag inte tycker. The position before the finite verb is what the BIFF mnemonic describes.
- Hon gör bra ifrån sig på jobbet, förutom att hon ibland kommer sent.
She does well at work, except that she sometimes arrives late.
Word by Word: She does good from herself at work, besides that she sometimes comes late.
Common Mistakes
Using 'förutom att' with a noun instead of a clause.
Jag gillar alla grönsaker, förutom att spenat.Jag gillar alla grönsaker, förutom spenat.A noun alone takes förutom, as in förutom spenat. Att may introduce a finite clause (förutom att jag gillar spenat) or an infinitive phrase (förutom att laga mat); it cannot simply be inserted before the noun.
Putting the main-clause negation order inside the ordinary att-clause.
Resan var bra, förutom att vi hade inte så bra väder.Resan var bra, förutom att vi inte hade så bra väder.For neutral subordinate clause negation, put inte before finite hade. Inte before vi can instead focus specifically on the subject in a contrast such as inte vi utan de andra; that is a different meaning.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'förutom att' (besides/except that), you need to understand how to build subordinate clauses in Swedish. This involves knowing the standard 'att-clause' structure and the BIFF rule, which dictates where to place negations and other adverbs in these types of sentences.
- That-clause structure
The pattern 'förutom att' introduces a subordinate clause, requiring knowledge of how to structure sentences following the conjunction 'att'.
Level 2 - Subordinate clause word order
Since 'förutom att' functions as a subordinating conjunction, the learner must understand the specific placement of sentence adverbs (like 'inte') in subordinate clauses.
Level 3 - utanWithout
Understanding the preposition 'utan' (without) and its role in exceptions provides the conceptual foundation for complex exception markers like 'förutom'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- trots attDespite That
Both introduce subordinate clauses, but
Level 2trots attmeans 'despite that' (concession), whileförutom attmeans 'except that' (exception) or 'besides that' (addition). Comparing them helps clarify their specific meanings. - utan attWithout -ing
Similar in structure,
Level 3utan attmeans 'without doing something'. It's useful to contrast withförutom attto see how different conjunctions create different logical connections between clauses. - Verb-second rule
If you start a sentence with the
Level 3förutom att-clause, the following main clause must use V2 inversion, placing the verb in the second position. This is a fundamental rule of Swedish word order.
Words in This Pattern
Practice förutom att in Bubblegum
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