General
Exclamatives express the speaker’s reaction of positive or negative surprise concerning the situation or part of the situation described:
(1) What a silly man just called me on the phone!
Structurally exclamatives differ from other main clauses since exclamatives have the syntax of an embedded clause, although it is not syntactically embedded.
Swedish
Swedish has three types of exclamatives, corresponding to att-clauses (non-relative that-clauses), comparative som-clauses (as-clauses) and clauses introduced by a wh-word or så ‘so’:
(1) a. Att han kan vara så dum!
that he can be so stupid
b. Som han drack!
as he drank
c. Vad/Så snäll han är!
what/så kind he is
How kind he is.
Exclamative att-clauses express the reaction to the event as such, exclamative som-clauses a reaction to the degree with which something happened or the way something is described, and exclamative wh-clauses expresses a reaction towards the wh-part of the clause. The syntax of these exclamatives is identical to what is found for the corresponding subordinate clauses. Thus, e.g. when the wh-word or an exclamative is the subject, it must be followed by som, whereas when it is the object, som is optional and usually avoided. This is exactly the situation found in embedded wh-interrogatives.
(2) a. Vilka dyrbara böcker som ligger där! (* without som)
which expensive books that are-lying there
b. Vilka dyrbara böcker (som) dina föräldrar äger!
which expensive books that your parents own
General
The subordinate clause is a part of a matrix clause. It can have the function of subject, object, adverbial, predicative and modifier of the noun. Some examples:
(1) a. [That he was sick] was obvious.
b. He did not know [who she had invited].
c. He arrived [when she had already left for Paris].
d. My plan is [that we shall try to surprise him].
e. I bought the book [that you suggested].
f. The decision [that he was going to retire] surprised his family.
There are different kinds of subordinate clauses with partly different properties and uses: nominal clauses (that-clauses, subordinate wh-interrogatives and subordinate yes/no questions), relative clauses and adverbial subordinate clauses.
Swedish
The Swedish subordinate clause differs from the prototypical main clause in one respect: in the position where the main clause has the finite verb, it has either a subjunction or nothing at all. This is illustrated by the following pairs of main clauses (marked M) and corresponding subordinate clauses (marked S):
(1)
| First position | M i d d l e p a r t | F i n a l p a r t | ||||
| Finite | Subject | Sent.advl | Verb | Object | Advl | |
| M Vem
who |
har
has |
inte
not |
läst
read |
den här boken
this book |
än
yet |
|
| S Jag vet) vem
I know who |
som
that |
inte
not |
har läst
has read |
den här boken
this book |
än
yet |
|
| M Min bok
my book |
har
has |
han
he |
faktiskt
actually |
läst
read |
||
| S (Det är) min bok
it is my bookk |
som
that |
han
he |
faktiskt
actually |
har läst
has read |
||
| M Eva
Eva |
har
has |
inte
not |
träffat
met |
mina barn
my children |
än
yet |
|
| S | att
that |
Eva
Eva |
inte
not |
(har) träffat
has met |
mina barn
my children |
än
yet |
This table illustrates the four most characteristic properties of Swedish subordinate clauses:
a) they have a subjunction where the main clause has the finite verb
b) the subject is always in the position after the subjunction (unless it is a wh-word)
c) the finite verb is always following the negation and other sentence adverbials
d) the tensed auxiliary ha ‘have’ may be omitted.
These properties hold true for all kinds of embedded clauses in Swedish.
The table does not illustrate the fact that sentence adveribals may be placed before the subject; usually the subject in this case is a noun phrase with a nominal head, or a stressed pronoun; compare the corresponding possibility to place sentence adverbials in front of the (inverted) subject in main clauses, section 1.9.1.1., below the scheme (1).
(2) a. Jag tror att faktiskt pojkarna har läst boken.
I believe that actually boys.the have read book.the
b. Hon undrade om inte Kalle var kommen.
she wondered if not Kalle was arrived
c. Om inte DU vill göra det, så gör jag det.
if not you want to-do it then do I it
Swedish
Nominal subordinate clauses, i.e. att-clauses and interrogative clauses, can have more or less the same functions as noun phrases. Usually, a subject nominal subordinate clause is extraposed, as shown in (1b):
(1) a. Subject [Att du inte kommer i tid] irriterar mig verkligen.
that you not arrive in time irritate me really
[Hur detta sköts] spelar stor roll för mig.
how this is-handled plays great role for me
b. Extraposed subject Det är uppenbart [att du inte begriper det här].
it is evident that you not understand this
Det märks [vem som har vunnit
it can-be-seen who that has won
c. Object Jag hoppas [att han vinner loppet]
I hope that he will-win race.the
Visste hon [vem som hade vunnit]?
knew she who that had won
d. Prepositional complement Jag är säker på [att han vinner]
I am sure on that he will-win
Han tänkte på [vad de sa].
he thought of what they say
e. Subject predicative Problemet är [att han inte kan sjunga].
problem.the is that he not can sing
Frågan var [vem han skulle välja]
question.the was who he should elect
f. Appositional attribute Ryktet [att han skulle vara sjuk] är falskt.
rumor.the that he should be sick is false
Frågan [vem som har vunnit] besvaras först i morgon.
question.the who that has won is-answered first tomorrow
Whereas a preposition cannot be omitted before a noun phrase, this often happens before a nominal clause.
(2) Jag är glad (för) [att hon har vunnit]. compare Jag är glad för/*Ø hennes seger.
I am glad for that she has won I am glad for her victory
When a nominal clause following a preposition is placed in the first position, leaving the preposition behind (preposition stranding, see 2.5.3.), the preposition cannot be omitted:
(3) [Att hon har vunnit] är jag glad (för/*Ø).
that she has won is I glad for
1.10.1.1. Att-clauses
The Swedish att-clause always has att as the first element (except in the cases where att is omitted), thus the base is always empty. The structure is given in (1), and its various functions summarized in (2):
(1)
| The matrix | M i d d l e p a r t | F i n a l p a r t | ||||
| Finite | Subject | Sent.advl | Verb | Object | Advl | |
| (Jag hoppas)
I hope |
att
that |
min häst
my horse |
inte
not |
har blivit
has been |
sjuk
ill |
nu
now |
| (Det gladde mig)
it made me glad |
att
that |
Maria | faktiskt
actually |
gillade
liked |
den här tårtan
this cake |
|
| (Jag tror)
I believe |
hon
she |
snart
soon |
kan äta
can eat |
fisk
fish |
igen
again |
|
(2) a. Subject [Att du inte kommer i tid] irriterar mig verkligen.
that you not arrive in time irritate me really
b. Extraposed subject Det är uppenbart [att du inte begriper det här].
It is evident that you not understand this
c. Object Jag hoppas [att han vinner loppet].
I hope that he will-win race.the
d. Extraposed object Han visste det ögonblickligen [att hon inte tänkte komma].
he knew it instantaneously that she not thought to-come
e. Prepositional complement Jag är säker på [att han vinner].
I am sure on that he will-win
f. Subject predicative Problemet är [att han inte kan sjunga].
problem.the is that he not can sing
g. Appositional attribute Ryktet [att han skulle vara sjuk] är falskt.
rumor.the that he should be sick is false
The subjunction att may be omitted after certain verbs and adjectives:
(3) a. Han trodde [(att) Maria skulle lösa problemet].
he thought that Maria would solve problem.the
b. Det var tråkigt [(att) hon inte kunde komma].
it was sad that she not could come
The subjunction cannot be omitted when the subordinate clause is in the first position of the clause, after a preposition, or when it is an attribute:
(4) a. [Att han skulle vinna] var otänkbart. (* without att)
that he should win was unthinkable
b. Vi längtade efter [att hon skulle komma]. (* without att)
we longed for that she would come
c. Beslutet [att han skulle avgå] gjorde oss glada. (* without att)
decision.the that he should retire made us glad
After verbs like säga ‘say’, tro ‘think’, veta ‘know’, förstå ‘understand’ and their cognates, an att-clause can have main-clause word order, with the base immediately following the subjunction:
(5) a. Eva sa [att i morgon skulle det regna]. (adverbial in the base)
Eva said that to morrow should it rain
b. Jag tror [att den här boken har Anders redan läst]. (object in the base)
I think that this book has Anders already read
c. Du förstår nog [att han har inte vunnit loppet]. (subject in the base, verb before adv.)
you understand probably that he has not won race.the
When the matrix clause is a question or is negated, main clause word order is not possible:
(6) a. *Sa Eva [att i morgon skulle det regna]?
said Eva that tomorrow should it rain
b. *Jag tror inte [att den här boken har Anders redan läst].
I think not that this book has Anders already read
An att-clause in first position, in addition to an extraposed subject, do not have main clause word order:
(7) a. *[Att i morgon skulle det regna] sa Eva.
that tomorrow should it rain said Eva
b. ?Det är troligt [att i morgon kommer det att regna].
it is probable that to morrow come it to rain
A phrase that is a part of a non-subject att-clause can be extracted to the first position of the matrix clause. When the subject is extracted, the subjunction must be omitted; when the object or an adverbial is extracted, attis optionally present:
(8) a. Vem tror du [(att) han har lurat]?
who believe you that he has cheated
b. Vem är du säker på [har kommit]? (* with att)
who is you sure on has come
1.10.1.2. Indirect wh-questions
Swedish
The Swedish indirect wh-question always has a wh-word (see 3.3.2) as the first element (vem ‘who’, vad ‘what’, vilken, vilket, vilka ‘which, varför ‘why’, när ‘when’, hur ‘how’, var ‘where’) or a noun phrase hosting a wh-word (vilka böcker ‘which books). The subjunction following the wh-word is som, which is also used in relative clauses (corresponding to English relative that) and comparative clauses (corresponding to English as). In the examples below, som is translated as ‘that’.
(1)
| The matrix | 1st pos. | M i d d l e p a r t | F i n a l p a r t | ||||
| Finite | Subject | Sent .advl | Verb | Object | Advl | ||
| (Jag undrar)
I wonder |
vem
who |
som
that |
inte
not |
har blivit
has been |
sjuk
ill |
än
yet |
|
| (Jag vet)
I know |
vilka skor
which shoes |
som
that |
Maria | faktiskt
actually |
gillar
likes |
||
| (De diskuterade)
they discussed |
vem
who |
(som)
that |
hon
she |
skulle ta
should take |
med sig
with her |
hem
home |
|
The Swedish indirect wh-question may be used as a subject (2a), an extraposed
subject (2b), a direct object (2c), an extraposed direct object (2d), the
object of a preposition (2e), a subject prediative (2f), and as an appositional
attribute (2g):
(2) a. Subject [Hur detta sköts] spelar stor roll för mig.
how this is-handled plays great role for me
b. Extraposed subject Det märks [vem som har vunnit].
it can-be-seen who that has won
c. Object Visste hon [vem som hade vunnit]?
knew she who that had won
d. Extraposed object Han visste det säkert [vem som hadevunnit].
he new it for sure who that had won
e. Prepositional complement Han tänkte på [vad de sa].
he thought of what they say
f. Subject predicative Frågan var [vem han skullevälja].
question.the was who he should elect
g. Appositional attribute Frågan [vem som har vunnit] besvaras senare.
question.the who that has won is-answered later
When the wh-word is the subject of the indirect wh-question, it must be followed by som:
(3) a. Jag undrade [vilka av hennes vänner som skulle komma på festen]. (* without som)
I wondered which of her friends that would come at party.the
b. Vet du [vem som har gjort det]? (* without som)
know you who that has done it
Do you know who has done it?
When the wh-word is something other than the subject of the indirect wh-question, som is optionally used. It is usually omitted after a single wh-word and/or in front of a short subject (4a-c), but is more accepted after a long wh-phrase and/or in front of a complex subject (4d,e):
(4) a. Jag undrade [vem (som) hon skulle välja till partner]. (Preferably without som)
I wondered who that she would chose as partner
b. Jag vet [vem (som) min gamla farmor skulle föredra]. (Preferably without som)
I know who that my old grandma would prefer
c. Lisa frågade [vilka av mina böcker (som) han helst ville ha]. (no preference)
Lisa asked which of my books that he most-of-all wanted to-have
d. Nu vet jag [vilka av alla mina skor (som) min gamle vän ska få]. (som preferred)
now know I which of all my shoes that my old friend will get
When the content of the subordinate clause is supplied by the context, everything except the wh-word may be omitted:
(5) a. Hon vill ha ett nytt jobb. Frågan är bara när/hur/varför (hon vill göra det).
She wants a new job, The question is just when/how/hy she wants to do it
b. Hon vill ha ett nytt jobb. Frågan är bara vilket (jobb hon vill ha).
She wants a new job. The question is just what (job she wants)
1.10.1.3. Indirect Yes/No-questions
Swedish
The Swedish indirect yes/no-question is introduced by om ‘if’, in more formal written language huruvida ‘whether’, in casual speech ifall ‘if’. As with att-clauses, the subjunction is the first element of the clause.
(1)
| The matrix | M i d d l e p a r t | F i n a l p a r t | ||||
| Finite | Subject | Sent.advl | Verb | Object | Advl | |
| (Jag undrar)
I wonder |
om
if |
hon
she |
inte
not |
har blivit
has become |
sjuk
ill |
nu
now |
| (Du vet)
You know |
om
if |
Maria | verkligen
really |
gillar
likes |
hästar
horses |
|
| (De diskuterade)
they discussed |
huruvida
whether |
hon
she |
skulle ta
should take |
cykeln med sig
bike.the with her |
på resan
at trip.the |
|
The Swedish indirect yes/no-question is used as a subject (2a), an extraposed subject (2b), a direct object (2c), an extraposed direct object (2d), the object of a preposition (2e), a subject prediative (2f), and as an appositional attribute (2g):
(2) a. Subject [Huruvida hon har vunnit] framgår av programmet.
Whether she has won is clear from program.the
b. Extraposed subject Det märks [om Siri har vunnit].
it can-be-seen if Siri has won
c. Object Visste hon [om han hade vunnit]?
knew she if he had won
d. Extraposed object Han vet det säkert [om hon har vunnit].
he new it for sure who that had won
e. Prepositional complement Det beror på [om räntorna sjunker].
it depends on if intrests.the are-falling
f. Subject predicative Frågan var [om han skullekomma].
question.the was if he should come
g. Appositional attribute Frågan [om Busch har vunnit] kan inte besvaras än.
question.the if Busch has won cannot be-answered yet
When a yes/no-question is the complement of the preposition om ‘about’ which is homonymic with the subjunction om ‘if’, one of the two instances of om may be omitted (3a), or huruvida or ifall is used (3b):
(3) a. ?Vi slog vad om han skulle klara sig.
we betted about/if he would manage
b, Vi slog vad om [huruvida/ifall han skulle klara sig].
we betted about whether/if he would manage