"There were five bottles on the shelf."

Translation: Det stod fem flaskor på hyllan.

[Jewgoslav]

Is there any real difference between det fanns and det stod?

[Arnauti]

You can only say det stod about objects that are perceived to be standing up. Otherwise there isn't that much difference. fanns emphasizes the 'presence' slightly more and stod would probably be more neutral (at least for objects that are clearly standing), but the difference isn't huge.

[wladamac]

Why is it sometimes "i hyllan" and other times "på hyllan"? Obviously there is a difference, but how do i know it?

[Arnauti]

It depends on the form of the shelf. If the shelf is seen as enclosing things, it will be in the shelf (i hyllan). Maybe a bookshelf with sides, for instance.
If the shelf is seen just as a flat surface, it will be on the shelf, på hyllan. This could be the case for one single shelf with no sides.

[Zaqi97980]

So, shouldn't both forms be accepted here?

[Super-Svensk]

It should be på because the exercise asked for a translation for "on the shelf." I would correspond to "in."

[penguindonkey]

I disagree as in English we never say things are in shelves; they are always on them.

[rholder]

Is there a difference between butelj and flask? (Both were corrrect in the multiple choice)

[devalanteriel]

A flaska is used for pretty much any kind of sealable glass container, while a butelj always has the typical cylindrical form of e.g. a bottle of wine. The latter is also far, far less common a word nowadays.

[Auramyst]

Does "det var" work here?

[devalanteriel]

As a literal translation, yes, and it's also accepted. But without context, I'd never phrase it like that.

[raorn]

You take one down, pass it around...

[LadySeabrooke]

Fyra flaskor öl på hyllan!!