Reflexiva Possessiva Pronomen

Reflexiva Possessiva Pronomen — sin/sitt/sina vs hans/hennes/deras

This is widely considered the most confusing rule in Swedish — but once you see the logic, it clicks permanently. The key question is always: does the possessive refer back to the subject of the clause, or to someone else?

Read this passage very carefully. Every possessive is highlighted. Ask yourself each time: does it point back to the subject?

Erik parkerade sin bil utanför affären. Han tog sin jacka och gick in. Inne i affären såg han Sara. Sara bar på sin väska och pratade i sin telefon.

Erik kände igen hennes röst direkt. Hennes jacka var röd — precis som hans gamla jacka. Erik tyckte om hennes stil. Sara märkte honom och vinkade med sin hand.

De satte sig vid ett bord. Erik la sin telefon på bordet. Sara la sin telefon bredvid hans. De drack kaffe ur sina koppar och pratade om sina jobb, sina familjer och sina planer.

What to notice: Sin/sitt/sina is used when the possessor IS the subject of the same clause. Hans/hennes/deras is used when the possessor is NOT the subject — it refers to a third person mentioned elsewhere. This distinction does not exist in English, which always uses his/her/their regardless.