How it works
Use a definite noun when the listener can identify which person or thing is meant. For the regular consonant-final nouns here, an en noun adds -en and an ett noun adds -et. The table also shows vowel-final nouns that add -n or -t. These tasks supply the noun's class and ask for one already identified object; noun gender is not inferred from a translation. English normally puts “the” before a noun; in these simple Swedish noun phrases, definiteness is marked by the ending. The en/ett class is a property of the Swedish noun, not of its English translation.
One identified thing: en noun + -en; ett noun + -et. The vowel-final examples take -n or -t.
| Class | Indefinite singular | Definite singular |
|---|---|---|
| Common gender | en katt | katten |
| Neuter | ett bord | bordet |
| Vowel-final common gender | en skola | skolan |
| Vowel-final neuter | ett äpple | äpplet |
See it in a sentence
Lampan är här.
The lamp is here.
Lampan is definite singular with the ending -n; the sentence refers to one identifiable lamp.
Tåget är här.
The train is here.
Tåget is the definite singular form of a neuter noun, marked by the ending -et.
Put it into practice
Try it yourself
5 questions, with feedback after every answer. No account needed.
