<em>Som</em> som præposition? En reklassificering af <em>som</em> og heraf afledte konsekvenser for Dansk Sprognævns sproglige rådgivning og normering

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with the word class of the Danish comparative word som 'as, like'. In contrast to most previous work, we propose that som should be analyzed as a preposition rather than as a subordinating conjunction. We first present the definitions of prepositions and subordinating conjunctions that we subscribe to. Subsequently, we point out that som is plausibly a preposition because it may substitute prepositions without any significant change of meaning. We then formulate five syntactic tests which support the idea that som is a preposition rather than a subordinating conjunction. If this analysis is correct, it has consequences for the prescriptive work with which Dansk Sprognaevn (the Danish Language Council) is engaged.