That-clause structure
Ordinary pattern: att + subject + inte + finite verb.
How It Works
When a clause begins with the conjunction att (that), it becomes a subordinate clause (a 'bisats'). Subordinate clauses in Swedish have a different word order than main clauses, especially concerning sentence adverbs.
The main principle is the BIFF rule: Bisats, Inte Före Finita verbet. In ordinary subordinate word order, the sentence adverb (like inte, alltid, kanske, ofta) comes before the first (finite) verb.
Let's compare:
- Main Clause: Han kommer inte idag. (He is not coming today.)
(Subject - Verb - Adverb) - Subordinate Clause: Jag vet att han inte kommer idag. (I know that he is not coming today.)
(Conjunction - Subject - Adverb - Verb)
The pattern is useful for other adverbs too, as in the following example with alltid.
- Main Clause: Hon läser alltid på kvällen. (She always reads in the evening.)
- Subordinate Clause: Jag tror att hon alltid läser på kvällen. (I think that she always reads in the evening.)
This word order is a fundamental part of Swedish grammar and applies to most types of subordinate clauses, not just those starting with 'att'.
Recognize an Important Variation
Some att-clauses presenting an assertion can have main-clause order: Jag tror att i dag blir vi färdiga (I think we will finish today). This does not make main-clause order freely available in every subordinate clause. The examples above deliberately practise the ordinary adverb-before-finite-verb pattern.
Examples (5)
- Jag vet att han inte talar svenska.
I know that he doesn't speak Swedish.
Word by Word: I know that he not speaks Swedish.
- Hon säger att hon alltid äter frukost.
She says that she always eats breakfast.
Word by Word: She says that she always eats breakfast.
- Det är viktigt att du verkligen försöker.
It's important that you really try.
Word by Word: It is important that you really try.
- Jag tror att de kanske kommer imorgon.
I think that they might come tomorrow.
Word by Word: I think that they perhaps come tomorrow.
- Han lovade att han aldrig skulle göra det igen.
He promised that he would never do it again.
Word by Word: He promised that he never would do it again.
Common Mistakes
Missing the ordinary subordinate pattern when neutral att-clause order is intended.
Jag tror att han kommer inte.Jag tror att han inte kommer.Att han inte kommer is the ordinary subordinate pattern to learn. Att han kommer inte can occur with main-clause order in an assertive att-clause, so it is not categorically ungrammatical. That marked construction is not the neutral pattern being practised here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'att-clause' word order, you first need to learn basic Swedish sentence structure (V2 rule). Since the most notable change in these clauses is the placement of the negation 'inte' and other sentence particles before the verb rather than after it, you must already be familiar with basic negation and verb usage.
Related Patterns
- Subordinate clause word order
This is the name of the exact word order rule that applies to 'att'-clauses. 'Att'-clauses are a primary example of where the BIFF rule is used.
Level 3 - Word order basics
Explains the standard word order for main clauses. Understanding main clause word order is crucial for seeing how 'att'-clause word order is different.
Foundations - somThat/which/who
'som' (who/which/that) also introduces a subordinate clause (a relative clause). These clauses follow the same word order rule as 'att'-clauses.
Level 2 - eftersomBecause/since
'eftersom' (because/since) is another conjunction that starts a subordinate clause. It follows the same adverb-before-verb word order, showing that this is a general rule for subordinate clauses.
Level 2 - om (villkor)If
Conditional om also normally takes subordinate order: Om han inte kommer, börjar vi ändå (If he does not come, we will start anyway). Interrogative om meaning whether is a separate use.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- därför attBecauseLevel 2
- efter attAfterLevel 2
- fast/fastänAlthoughLevel 2
- Indirect question word orderLevel 2
- innanBeforeLevel 2
- ju...destoThe More...the MoreLevel 2
- Negation in subordinate clausesLevel 2
- så attSo ThatLevel 2
And 5 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice That-clause structure in Bubblegum
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