förrän

"Förrän" is a Swedish word that functions as a conjunction or an adverb. As a conjunction, it is equivalent to "before" in English, introducing a subordinate clause that describes an event or state that occurred prior to the main clause. For example, "Han kom hem förrän det blev mörkt" translates to "He came home before it got dark." In this usage, it links two clauses, indicating a temporal relationship.

As an adverb, "förrän" also signifies "before," but it often emphasizes the point in time when something *will* or *did* happen. It can also imply "not until." For instance, "Vi ses förrän nästa vecka" means "We'll see each other next week" (implying not before then). When used with a negative, it takes on the "not until" meaning more strongly: "Han var inte hemma förrän sent på kvällen," meaning "He was not home until late in the evening." The context generally clarifies whether "förrän" is acting as a conjunction connecting two clauses or as a standalone adverb modifying the timing of an action. Understanding its dual role is key to comprehending its usage in Swedish sentences.