Hej! After learning about Swedish nouns and their definite and indefinite forms, you'll naturally want to point things out! This is where Swedish demonstratives come in handy. Demonstratives are words like "this," "that," "these," and "those" that indicate specific items and often show their proximity to the speaker.

In Swedish, the primary demonstrative adjectives/pronouns are based on den and det (which you've seen as pronouns for en/ett words) combined with adverbs indicating location (`här` - here, `där` - there). Understanding these forms is crucial for distinguishing between objects and referring to them clearly. This guide will walk you through using den här, det här, den där, det där, and their plural forms, with examples like den här boken (this book) and det där huset (that house).

Mastering demonstratives will significantly enhance your ability to describe and interact with the world around you in Swedish. At Sprachlingua, our Online Swedish Courses incorporate practical exercises using demonstratives to help you speak more naturally.

"This" and "These" (Nä nära talaren)

To refer to something close to you, you use forms involving här (here). These change based on the gender and number of the noun they refer to.

• For singular common gender (en) nouns: Use den här.
  Structure: den här + noun (definite form)
  Example: en bok (a book) → den här boken (this book)
  Example: en stol (a chair) → den här stolen (this chair)
• For singular neuter gender (ett) nouns: Use det här.
  Structure: det här + noun (definite form)
  Example: ett hus (a house) → det här huset (this house)
  Example: ett äpple (an apple) → det här äpplet (this apple)
• For plural nouns (both genders): Use dessa.
  Structure: dessa + noun (indefinite plural form)
  Example: böcker (books) → dessa böcker (these books)
  Example: hus (houses) → dessa hus (these houses)
  Example: stolar (chairs) → dessa stolar (these chairs)

"That" and "Those" (Nä längre bort)

To refer to something further away, you use forms involving där (there). Again, these change based on gender and number.

• For singular common gender (en) nouns: Use den där.
  Structure: den där + noun (definite form)
  Example: en bil (a car) → den där bilen (that car)
  Example: en vän (a friend) → den där vännen (that friend)
• For singular neuter gender (ett) nouns: Use det där.
  Structure: det där + noun (definite form)
  Example: ett träd (a tree) → det där trädet (that tree)
  Example: ett fönster (a window) → det där fönstret (that window)
• For plural nouns (both genders): Use de där.
  Structure: de där + noun (definite plural form)
  Example: böcker (books) → de där böckerna (those books)
  Example: hus (houses) → de där husen (those houses)
  Example: stolar (chairs) → de där stolarna (those chairs)

Demonstratives as Pronouns

You can also use the demonstrative forms (`den här`, `det här`, `dessa`, `den där`, `det där`, `de där`) *without* a following noun, in which case they function as pronouns, replacing the noun.

• Vilken bok vill du ha? Den här. (Which book do you want? This one.)
• Vilket hus är ditt? Det där. (Which house is yours? That one.)
• Vilka äpplen är goda? Dessa. (Which apples are good? These ones.)
• Vilka bilar ser du? De där. (Which cars do you see? Those ones.)

Summary Table: The Swedish Demonstratives

Tips for Mastering Swedish Demonstratives

Practicing with objects around you is the best way to learn:

• Point and Say: Literally point to objects near and far and say the phrase out loud. "Den här boken." (Point to a book nearby). "Det där fönstret." (Point to a window across the room).
• Always Use the Definite Noun: Remember that when `den här`, `det här`, `den där`, `det där`, or `de där` are used with a noun, the noun itself takes its definite ending. Don't say *"den här bok"*.
• Learn `dessa` and `de där` with Plurals: Practice combining `dessa` with indefinite plurals and `de där` with definite plurals.
• Listen for Usage: Pay attention to how native speakers use these words. Do they say `den här` or `den där`? It often depends on their perception of distance, not just physical location.
• Describe Scenes: Look at pictures and describe different objects in them using demonstratives to indicate which one you mean.

It takes a little getting used to combining the demonstrative word with the definite ending on the noun (the "double definiteness"), but with consistent practice, it will feel natural.

Conclusion: Pointing Your Way to Fluency

Swedish demonstratives, like den här, det här, dessa, den där, det där, and de där, are essential tools for specifying which noun you are talking about based on proximity. Remember to match the demonstrative to the noun's gender and number and to use the correct noun form (definite singular/plural for `den/det/de där`, indefinite plural for `dessa`).

The "double definiteness" with noun phrases like den här boken might be new, but it's a consistent pattern. Practice pointing and speaking, describing objects around you, and listening to native Swedish, and you'll soon master these forms.

Ready to put Swedish demonstratives into practice through speaking and interactive exercises? Sprachlingua's Online Swedish Language Programs offer a supportive environment to practice grammar points like demonstratives in conversation, helping you build confidence and fluency.

Peka och prata på svenska!