med tanke på
Considering/given
Use 'med tanke på' to introduce a circumstance or reason that provides context for the main statement.
How It Works
'Med tanke på' translates to 'considering', 'in view of', or 'given'. It introduces a circumstance taken into account in a judgment or decision. The circumstance need not already be known to the listener.
Sentence Structure:
When 'med tanke på' and its phrase begin a sentence, the entire phrase acts as the first element. This means the main clause must follow the verb-second (V2) rule, with the finite verb following the whole initial phrase. A comma is not required merely because the phrase is initial.
- Med tanke på + [phrase], [verb] + [subject]...
What can follow 'med tanke på'?
1. A noun or noun phrase:
- Med tanke på vädret... (Considering the weather...)
- Med tanke på hans erfarenhet... (Considering his experience...)
2. A subordinate clause:
- Med tanke på att han är nybörjare... (Considering that he is a beginner...)
- Med tanke på hur mycket han pluggade... (Considering how much he studied...)
Comparison with similar phrases:
- på grund av ('because of'): Presents a cause or reason. 'Matchen ställdes in på grund av regnet.' (The match was cancelled because of the rain.)
- med tanke på: Introduces a factor for judgment or assessment. 'Med tanke på regnet var det ett klokt beslut att ställa in matchen.' (Considering the rain, it was a wise decision to cancel the match.)
- eftersom ('since'/'because'): A conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause explaining the reason. 'Vi stannade inne eftersom det regnade.' (We stayed inside because it was raining.)
'Med tanke på' is often used to express that something is understandable, surprising, or logical in a specific context.
A Reason For A DecisionFlyget blev inställt med tanke på stormen can mean that the flight was cancelled in view of the storm, for example as a precaution. It is not ungrammatical. Flyget blev inställt på grund av stormen presents the storm as the reason for cancellation. The expressions overlap, although med tanke på foregrounds a consideration or assessment rather than simply identifying a cause.
A consideration can also make a result surprising: Med tanke på hur lite hon sov är hon förvånansvärt pigg. The phrase does not guarantee that the following outcome is expected or logically entailed.
Examples (5)
- Med tanke på vädret stannar vi nog hemma ikväll.
Considering the weather, we'll probably stay home tonight.
Word by Word: With thought on the weather, stay we probably home tonight.
- Det är ett imponerande resultat, med tanke på hennes unga ålder.
It's an impressive result, considering her young age.
Word by Word: It is an impressive result, with thought on her young age.
- Med tanke på att han bara har sovit tre timmar är han förvånansvärt pigg.
Considering that he has only slept for three hours, he is surprisingly alert.
Word by Word: With thought on that he only has slept three hours, is he surprisingly alert.
- Med tanke på den ekonomiska situationen måste vi vara försiktiga med utgifterna.
Given the economic situation, we must be careful with our expenses.
Word by Word: With thought on the economic situation, must we be careful with the expenses.
- Han borde ha klarat provet, med tanke på hur mycket han pluggade.
He should have passed the test, considering how much he studied.
Word by Word: He should have managed the test, with thought on how much he studied.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting V2 inversion when the phrase starts a sentence.
Med tanke på priset, jag köper den inte.Med tanke på priset köper jag den inte.The entire phrase 'Med tanke på priset' is the first element of the sentence. According to the V2 rule, the verb ('köper') must come in the second position, before the subject ('jag').
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'med tanke på' (considering/given), you need to be familiar with the basic prepositions 'med' and 'på' which form the frame of the expression. It is a fixed circumstantial phrase used to introduce a reason or context for a statement.
- medWith
The phrase is built using the preposition 'med' (with) as its starting component.
Level 1 - påOn/at
The phrase concludes with the preposition 'på', which connects the expression to the following noun or clause.
Level 1 - Definite articles
The word 'tanke' (thought) in this fixed expression is used in its definite form 'tanken', though the 'n' is often dropped in the fixed idiom; understanding how nouns function in phrases is essential.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- Verb-second rule
Crucial for correct word order. When a sentence starts with 'Med tanke på...', the main clause must have the verb in the second position.
Level 3 - på grund avBecause Of/due to
På grund av presents a cause or reason; med tanke på foregrounds a factor taken into account. Their uses can overlap when someone makes a decision in view of a circumstance.
Level 4 - eftersomBecause/since
Another way to state a reason ('because'/'since'). 'Eftersom' is a conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause, whereas 'med tanke på' is a prepositional phrase.
Level 2 - trots attDespite That
Trots att explicitly presents a concession. Med tanke på introduces a consideration that may support an assessment of either an expected or a surprising result.
Level 2 - That-clause structure
Relevant because 'med tanke på' can be followed by a subordinate clause (like an 'att'-clause or 'hur'-clause), which has its own specific word order rules (the BIFF rule).
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice med tanke på in Bubblegum
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