av

Of/by

Level 1

av is a preposition that most commonly means of or by.

How It Works

av is a fundamental preposition with several important uses. For a beginner, it's best to focus on its two primary meanings: 'of' and 'by'.

1. 'av' as 'of'
This usage is very similar to English. It can describe:

  • Material: What something is made from.
    Ett hus av sten. (A house of stone.)
    En tröja av ull. (A sweater of wool.)
  • A part of a whole:
    En bit av kakan. (A piece of the cake.)
    En av mina vänner. (One of my friends.)
  • Content or description:
    En bild av min hund. (A picture of my dog.)
    By contrast, en lista med namn (a list of names) uses med. English “of” does not always correspond to av.

2. 'av' as 'by'
This usage indicates the agent—the person or thing that performs an action. It's very common in two situations:

  • With creators: To say who wrote, painted, or created something.
    En sång av ABBA. (A song by ABBA.)
    En målning av Picasso. (A painting by Picasso.)
  • In passive sentences: To show who did the action.
    Maten lagades av kocken. (The food was cooked by the chef.)
    Fönstret öppnades av vinden. (The window was opened by the wind.)
    The agent phrase is optional in both the s-passive and bli-passive.

Examples (5)

  1. Bordet är gjort av trä.

    The table is made of wood.

    Word by Word: The table is made of wood.

  2. Jag läser en bok av Astrid Lindgren.

    I am reading a book by Astrid Lindgren.

    Word by Word: I read a book by Astrid Lindgren.

  3. Brevet skrevs av min pappa.

    The letter was written by my dad.

    Word by Word: The letter was written by my dad.

    Here, 'av' introduces the agent (my dad) in a passive sentence.

  4. Vill du ha en bit av min tårta?

    Do you want a piece of my cake?

    Word by Word: Want you have a piece of my cake?

  5. Det är en bild av min familj.

    It is a picture of my family.

    Word by Word: It is a picture of my family.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'av' (of/by) with 'från' (from) for geographical origin.

    Min vän är av Tyskland.
    Min vän är från Tyskland.

    Use från for geographical origin (coming from a place). Use 'av' for material (a table of wood) or the agent in a passive sentence (written by me).

  • Using 'med' (with) instead of 'av' for the agent in a passive sentence.

    Middagen lagades med min mamma.
    Middagen lagades av min mamma.

    To identify who cooked the meal, use av min mamma. Med can instead mark accompaniment or an instrument: med min mamma means “with my mother,” and Brevet skrevs med en penna means “The letter was written with a pen.” These are different meanings, not interchangeable agent markers.

How It Connects

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avLevel 1Of/by

Learn This First

The preposition 'av' is a foundational particle in Swedish. To use it effectively, a learner should be familiar with basic noun structures, including genders and definite forms, as these are the primary components 'av' connects to indicate origin, material, or agency.

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