Future tenses in Swedish (SKA or KOMMER ATT) Posted by Tibor on Apr 14, 2012 in Grammar
There are three ways to express future actions in the Swedish language.
| Present Simple + Adverb/s of time. | SKA | KOMMER ATT |
| In most languages you can use the Present Tense for expressing future action as well. But then of course you need some kind of cursor or to add something extra to make your sentence different from Present Tenses.Ex: I am flying. (right now)
I am flying tomorrow. (future) |
SKA + infinitive form of the second verb in the sentence.Jag ska åka till New York.
Jag ska göra det i morgon.
There are two forms that are used in the Swedish language. The more common SKA (both in written and spoken language) and the less common, older and mainly used bureaucratical or old texts SKALL. (only in written language)
Ex: Du skall inte stjäla. (The Bible)
Ex: Av ansökan skall framgå från vilken tidpunkt utträde önskas. (Text of a law firm)
However, one thing is very important; be always consequent whenever using these forms. Never mix the two forms when you write. SKA expresses your own subjective willingness i.e. what you want to do in the future. It is always subjective and sure. |
It talks about something that is more objective and a bit unsure. Expressions like
Are often followed by KOMMER ATT.
Ex: Jag vet inte om maten kommer att räcka.
Ex: Jag tror att det kommer att regna. |
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Comments:
Alex:
Cool post 😀
Would be nice to see the English translations though, I am guessing at the meanings, but don’t really have a way to check I was correct.
Ellie:
Very nice post, and good explanation. But I think maybe you mixed up the objective and subjective. I would think that ‘ska’ is more objective since it’s more sure to happen. Kommer att would be more subjective because something could cause it to change.
Skall is more old fashioned, like shall in English? Is it used very often in conversation?
Mane:
Tjena!
Äntligen en jättebra förklarning. Tack för det.