Eftersom versus på grund av: because in Swedish
What the lesson covers
This lesson details how to express reasons in Swedish, specifically distinguishing between the equivalents of "because" and "because of." For a simple "because" explaining why something is done, the Swedish word "eftersom" is used (e.g., "He wants everything eftersom he is a dictator"). When expressing "because of" or "due to," which attributes an action to a cause or agent, the phrase "på grund av" (literally "on grounds of") is employed (e.g., "I am here på grund av you"). The key takeaway is to use "eftersom" when simply stating "because," and "på grund av" when the English calls for "because of." The lesson also introduces related vocabulary such as "grund" (ground/reason), "att basera" (to base), "saknar" (to lack), and "också" (also), alongside explanations of Swedish possessive pronouns and question formation.
Vocabulary in this lesson
54 words. Inside Lingolib each one is tappable in the transcript and saved to your library with one tap.
- allting
- everything
- att basera
- to base
- baserar
- base (verb)
- bil
- car
- bröd
- bread
- de
- they
- detta
- this
- dig
- you (object)
- diktator
- dictator
- du
- you (subject)
- eftersom
- because
- elever
- pupils
- en
- a/an (common gender)
- få
- get
- för
- for
- före
- before
- grund
- ground (singular)
- grunder
- grounds (plural)
- gå
- go
- ha
- have
- han
- he
- hans
- his (non-reflexive possessive)
- har
- have (present tense)
- hatar
- hate (verb)
- hennes
- her (non-reflexive possessive)
- hon
- she
- hungrig
- hungry
- här
- here
- innan
- before
- inte
- not
- italien
- Italy
- jag
- I
- jobb
- job
- kan
- can / to be able to
- också
- also
- oss
- us
- pasta
- pasta
- personer
- persons
- på
- on
- restaurangen
- the restaurant
- saknar
- lack / miss (verb)
- sitt
- their (reflexive possessive)
- som
- that
- studenter
- students
- svensk
- Swedish
- till
- to
- trött
- tired
- var
- were
- varför
- why
- vilka
- which (plural)
- vill
- want / wants
- älskar
- love / loves
- är
- am / is / are
- äta
- to eat / eat
How the lesson starts
The opening of the lesson transcript. The rest is in the course, synced to the video.
An important thing that we need in language is the ability to express ourselves when it comes to explaining why we do things. "Why did you bring this?" "Why did you not bring this?" "Well, I did this because I had to." "I did this because I was hungry." "I did this because of her." So, you always give reasons for your actions and for your speech.
And in order to do that, in English, you would use the word "because". "Because" signifies an explanation of some kind. That gives an explanation as to why you did something. Uh in fact, in some languages, you would actually use the word for "why".
The video plays beside a transcript that follows it line by line. Swedish words are underlined; tap one and the video pauses, the meaning appears, and the word goes into your library. At the end there is a five-question quiz written from this exact lesson, and every word can be practised out loud.