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- Topic: Swedish >
- "Vilket djur äter ost?"
56 Comments
Because cheese isn't typical of a mouse's diet; cheese messes with a mouse's digestive system real badly. Typically, they would eat grains and fruit before they turn to cheese.
... as it is bad for OUR system, btw. But I will still eat it sometimes. Too tasty.
Nej, de äter jordnötssmör. (If you trap them, peanut butter is the bait they like)
779
musen / the mouse / el ratón / an luch / o rato /lá láúsháh/ die Maus/ Il topo/ De muis
Kan jag säg Which animal does eat cheese? = Is it grammatically wrong in Eng?
- 1333
It isn't wrong, but it adds a nuance that isn't in the Swedish sentence, so it won't be an accepted answer.
You need do in English to create negated sentences (I read -> I do not read) and questions where there isn't a question word: (Do you read?). In those cases, do does not change meaning. But if you add do here, it gives a meaning close to 'actually', 'in fact' or something like that.
- 1863
I tried to answer this sentence as a plural: "Which animals eat cheese?". Could it be correct (it's not, I lost a heart/life)? Maybe I missed something because I'm total beginner; 3 days ago I didn't know a single word of Swedish.
"Vilket" indicates that it's singular. Plural should be "vilka djur" (I guess).
I can only guess from German that "vad djur" wouldn't be grammatically correct. "Vad" is "what" as in "what's that" or "what are you doing". But it can't be used to ask "what (kind of) book/person/animal". In these cases you have to use "vilket/n" instead. However I think (!) you could ask "Vad för djur äter ost?". But I can't guarantee that this is correct.
- 176
English is unusual among European languages in allowing both "which" and "what" to be used by themselves as interrogative adjectives directly before a noun:
1. Which animal eats cheese?
2. What animal eats cheese?
Most languages use a translation of "which" rather than "what" in these questions, or else a construction like "what for (a)" = "vad för (en)"
In English there is a slight difference between 1 and 2. 1 assumes that there is a specific list of possibilities that both the persons asking and answering are aware of. 2 makes no such assumption:
"What tie will you wear tomorrow?"
"You own several neckties. Which tie will you wear tomorrow?"
I got this wrong because I answered 'What animals' not 'What animal'.
As 'djur' can be plural or singular, could the dictionary hint for 'vilket' be vhanged to include that it's singular?
If it's vilket, then you know it's singular.
Vilket = which (singular ett word).
Vilken = which (singular en word).
Vilka = which (plural).
which animal does eat cheese? should be ok? (i'm not a native english speaker, tack)
- 176
You use one before a singular ett word, and the other before a singular en word. I'll let you guess which is which.
Can this be correct "Vilket äter djur ost?". We put question first, then comes the verb and rest comes after. I read this in the tips. I get confused when some times that rule is followed and sometimes not. Anyone can kindly tell, if above version is wrong, how to know for sure the order of 'question word' 'verb' 'noun/rest of words' ? Thanks
- 176
Your suggestion does not work. It is like saying in English "Which eats animal cheese?"
In a question of the type here, the first word must be a question word, or a noun phrase that begins with a question word. For example:
1. who eats cheese?
2. what eats cheese?
3. what animal eats cheese?
4. which animal eats cheese?
In the noun phrase, you cannot split the question word (which/vilken/etc.) from the noun that follows it.
I have used examples in English, but Swedish follows the same pattern.
ahhh now i can see it after reading your detailed comment :) thanks a lot!
A question occurs to me, why are mice so synonymous with cheese? Its not like its their favourite food after all
Like rabbits and carrots, the only rabbit I know that actually eats carrots is that one who would become 'Big Chungus'.
Lots of them, if given the chance. Mice would be the stereotypical example.
