i samband med

In Connection with

Level 4

Use i samband med to formally link an event to its context, like 'in connection with the conference'.

How It Works

The phrase i samband med is a common and useful expression in formal Swedish, translating to 'in connection with', 'in conjunction with', or 'on the occasion of'. It's primarily used to link an action or event to a broader context.

Key Characteristics:

  • Formality: It belongs to a more formal register. You'll frequently encounter it in news reports, official announcements, academic texts, and business correspondence.
  • Contextual Link: It establishes a relationship between two things without necessarily implying direct causation. The connection can be temporal (happening around the same time) or thematic (related to the same topic).

Structure:
The typical structure is:
[Action/Event] + i samband med + [Context/Related Event]

Usage Comparison:
It's important to distinguish i samband med from similar phrases:

  • när (when): När gives a time or situation link and can gain causal meaning in context. I samband med may indicate an association or merely closeness in time; a deeper causal connection is not required.
  • på grund av (because of): This indicates a direct cause. i samband med is for a general association, not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, arrests might be made 'in connection with' a protest, but the protest itself isn't the direct cause of each individual arrest.
  • angående (regarding): This introduces a topic for discussion. i samband med links an action to an event.

The complement can also be a clause: i samband med att kursen börjar (in connection with the course starting). Register is a choice, not a ban on using the phrase in everyday speech.

Examples (5)

  1. Polisen gjorde flera gripanden i samband med demonstrationen.

    The police made several arrests in connection with the demonstration.

    Word by Word: The police made several arrests in connection with the demonstration.

  2. I samband med festivalen kommer gatorna i centrum att vara avstängda.

    In connection with the festival, the streets in the city center will be closed.

    Word by Word: In connection with the festival will the streets in center to be closed-off.

  3. Statsministern höll ett tal i samband med nationaldagsfirandet.

    The Prime Minister gave a speech on the occasion of the National Day celebration.

    Word by Word: The Prime Minister held a speech in connection with the national-day-celebration.

  4. Många frågor uppstod i samband med den nya lagstiftningen.

    Many questions arose in connection with the new legislation.

    Word by Word: Many questions arose in connection with the new legislation.

  5. Vi erbjuder rabatt på alla våra kurser i samband med terminsstarten.

    We are offering a discount on all our courses in conjunction with the start of the semester.

    Word by Word: We offer discount on all our courses in connection with the-semester-start.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a causal relationship less explicit than intended.

    Tåget var försenat i samband med ett signalfel.
    Tåget var försenat på grund av ett signalfel.

    Both forms can be grammatical. På grund av explicitly attributes the delay to the signal fault. I samband med states a connection and leaves its precise nature less explicit; it does not deny that the fault caused the delay.

  • Choosing a heavier expression than the conversational context needs.

    Jag köpte chips i samband med att jag såg en film.
    Jag köpte chips när jag skulle se en film.

    The i samband med sentence is grammatical and can suit a deliberate contextual link. När is often lighter in casual conversation. The displayed alternative also changes the timing to when the speaker was going to watch; a closer paraphrase is Jag köpte chips när jag såg en film.

How It Connects

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

i samband medLevel 4In Connection with

Learn This First

To understand 'i samband med', you need to be familiar with the basic prepositions 'i' and 'med' which form the structure of this fixed association phrase. It also requires a basic understanding of how Swedish nouns are used in idiomatic expressions to link events or concepts.

Words in This Pattern

i samband medsamband