{"id":8363,"date":"2019-11-12T15:42:04","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T15:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/?p=8363"},"modified":"2022-03-27T10:41:49","modified_gmt":"2022-03-27T10:41:49","slug":"step-up-your-swedish-with-helping-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/step-up-your-swedish-with-helping-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Step up your Swedish with helping verbs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gamla

Simon Paulin “Friends in Old Town.” Image Bank Sweden<\/p><\/div>\n

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Mastering Swedish <\/span>hj\u00e4lpverb<\/span><\/i>, or helping verbs, is a stellar skill.\u00a0 Once my Swedish students have good command over basic sentence structure and present tense verbs, it\u2019s go-time for this concept in class! Helping verbs are sprinkled everywhere into everyday Swedish, and are important in building conversation skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Swedish helping verb construction<\/span><\/h2>\n

A helping verb modifies the main verb, embellishing the sentence and allowing the speaker to provide more detail. Instead of just, vi \u00e4ter lunch<\/i>, \u201cwe eat lunch,\u201d helping verbs allow us to say, vi m\u00e5ste \u00e4ta lunch,<\/i> \u201cwe must eat lunch\u201d or, vi vill \u00e4ta lunch<\/i>, \u201cwe want to eat lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s use the verb <\/span>talar<\/span><\/i> as an example:<\/span><\/p>\n

Jag talar.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/em>I speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Now let’s play with helping verbs + tala\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jag <\/span>kan<\/b><\/em> tala.<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I can speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hon <\/span>ska<\/b> tala.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/em>She will speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Han <\/span>vill<\/b> inte tala.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/em>He does not want to speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vi <\/span>beh\u00f6ver<\/b><\/em> tala.<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>We need to speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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…those last sentences are a lot more dynamic than just Jag talar<\/em>, eller hur<\/em>\/right?!\u00a0 You\u2019ll notice that the main verb <\/span>tala<\/span><\/i> is in the infinitive form<\/strong>, not the present tense form, <\/span>talar<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0 Every time we use a helping verb, we must<\/strong> put the main verb in its infinitive form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To find the<\/span> infinitiv<\/span><\/i> form of the verb, be sure to consult a good dictionary. The <\/span>infinitiv<\/span><\/i> form of verbs in Swedish is often paired with att<\/em>. For example, att spela<\/em>, \u201cto play.”<\/span>\u00a0Using a website like <\/span>www.tyda.se<\/span><\/a>, is a great way to ensure you\u2019ve got the tenses right. See here that the <\/span>infinitiv <\/span><\/i>form spela<\/em> is listed first:<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Att spela” from www.tyda.se<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n<\/b>Take note of the infinitive form of these common verbs. Again, our main verb needs to be in infinitive form when paired with a helping verb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
INFINITIVE TENSE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nPRESENT TENSE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nDEFINITION<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att jobba<\/strong><\/td>\njobbar<\/td>\nto work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att komma<\/strong><\/td>\nkommer<\/td>\nto come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att k\u00f6pa<\/strong><\/td>\nk\u00f6per<\/td>\nto buy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att \u00e5ka<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00e5ker<\/td>\nto go (transport)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att g\u00f6ra<\/strong><\/td>\ng\u00f6r<\/td>\nto do \/ to make<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att k\u00f6ra<\/strong><\/td>\nk\u00f6r<\/td>\nto drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att studera<\/strong><\/td>\nstuderar<\/td>\nto study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att lyssna p\u00e5<\/strong><\/td>\nlyssnar p\u00e5<\/td>\nto listen to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att vara<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00e4r<\/td>\nto be<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
att l\u00e4sa<\/strong><\/td>\nl\u00e4ser<\/td>\nto read \/ study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Have some infinitive verbs ready to use?\u00a0 Let\u2019s breakdown 8 common helping verbs with example sentences:<\/p>\n

SKA\u00a0 – will or shall. To be used to describe the future tense<\/b><\/h2>\n

Jag ska jobba imorgon.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Han ska lyssna p\u00e5 radio.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ska vi g\u00e5 nu?
\n<\/span><\/em>I will work tomorrow.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 He will listen to the radio.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Shall we go now?<\/span><\/p>\n

KAN – can, to be able to<\/b><\/h2>\n

Jag kan tala lite franska.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Barnen kan inte komma till skolan idag.
\n<\/span><\/em>I can speak a little French\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>The kids cannot come to school today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kan vi \u00e5ka t\u00e5g till G\u00f6teborg?<\/em>
\nCan we take the train to G\u00f6teborg?<\/span><\/p>\n

M\u00c5STE<\/b> – must, have to\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Vi m\u00e5ste studera efter matchen.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ni m\u00e5ste vara p\u00e5 konferensen klockan 8.
\n<\/span><\/em>We must study after the game.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0You (plural) must be at the conference by 8.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Varf\u00f6r m\u00e5ste du k\u00f6pa s\u00e5 mycket kl\u00e4der?\u00a0<\/em>
\nWhy must you buy so much clothing?<\/p>\n

VILL – to want to\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hanna vill titta p\u00e5 Netflix ikv\u00e4ll.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 De vill lyssna p\u00e5 konserten.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\nHanna wants to watch Netflix this evening.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0They want to listen to the concert.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vad vill du g\u00f6ra idag?<\/em>
\nWhat do you want to do today?<\/p>\n

BEH\u00d6VER – need to\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

De beh\u00f6ver fika.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Min mamma beh\u00f6ver k\u00f6pa en cykel.
\n<\/span><\/em>They need to fika.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My mom needs to buy a bike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Du beh\u00f6ver l\u00e4sa den h\u00e4r boken!<\/em>
\nYou need to read this book!<\/p>\n

BORDE – ought to, should\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hon borde dricka mer vatten.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Vi borde inte tala om Benny.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>
\nShe should drink more water.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We ought not to talk about Benny.<\/span><\/p>\n

Det borde sluta regna.<\/em>
\nIt should stop raining.<\/p>\n

HINNER – to have time to\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Jag hinner inte k\u00f6ra dig idag.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hinner vi promenera hem?
\n<\/span><\/em>I don\u2019t have time to drive you today.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Do we have time to walk home?<\/span><\/p>\n

*some helping verbs can be used without a main verb, for example:
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-Hinner vi?\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-Do we have time?<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-Nej, vi hinner inte.<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-No, we don\u2019t have time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

F\u00c5R – to be allowed to \/ to get to<\/strong><\/h2>\n

F\u00e5r jag sitta h\u00e4r?\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Man f\u00e5r inte skicka SMS i skolan.
\n<\/span><\/em>May I sit here?\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0One is not allowed to send texts in school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now it’s your turn to write your own sentences with each helping verb!\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget to put your main verb in the infinitive form. The next grammar post from me will be about another helping verb brukar<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>meaning usually, paired with frequency adverbs, like often, sometimes, always, never, in Swedish. Happy studying!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Gamla

Mastering Swedish hj\u00e4lpverb, or helping verbs, is a stellar skill.\u00a0 Once my Swedish students have good command over basic sentence structure and present tense verbs, it\u2019s go-time for this concept in class! Helping verbs are sprinkled everywhere into everyday Swedish, and are important in building conversation skills.\u00a0 Swedish helping verb construction A helping verb…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":168,"featured_media":8365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6,3079,13],"tags":[530716,530963,140866,7744,364872,166],"class_list":["post-8363","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar","category-swedish-language","category-vocabulary","tag-beginning-grammar","tag-everyday-swedish","tag-helping-verbs","tag-swedish-grammar","tag-swedish-language","tag-verbs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t