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Archive for the 'Swedish Grammar' Category

Your Ultimate Resource for Must-Know Advanced Swedish Words

What are the first few words we learn in any language?  They're the most basic nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that we need for daily interactions. But every language has advanced words that we don't start learning until later on in our studies.  Once you master the basics, you can begin leveling up and perfecting your language skills by setting your sights on more advanced vocabulary. Luckily, you won’t have to search very far to unearth these word gems.  Below, we have compiled some of the most important advanced Swedish words for you to start studying. Table of Contents Advanced Academic Words Advanced Business Words Advanced Medical Words Advanced Legal Words Advanced Swedish Verbs Advanced Swedish... Show more

Negation in Swedish: Learn How to Say No

When learning a foreign language, it’s essential to have a lot of energy and positivity. After all, these are the qualities that will allow you to keep your spirits and your motivation up, and that will play a major role in reaching your language learning goals.  This is why we would love to always be able to say yes! But to master Swedish, you’ll also need to learn how to form negative sentences. Don’t worry, though, they’re only negative from a grammatical point of view. You can keep the positive vibe. ;) In this article, you’ll learn about negation in Swedish: how to make a negative sentence, how to answer a yes-or-no question correctly, and how to use other useful negative expressions.  We get it, saying no isn’t easy,... Show more

Verb Tenses in Swedish: All You Need to Know

Ever thought to yourself: What is a verb?  In addition to nouns, verbs are one of the most important parts of any sentence. They are the words we use to talk about actions (sjunga - sing), states of being (existera - exist), or occurrences (utveckla - develop), and they have to agree with the subject, which is who or what performs the action described.  Basically, all sentences need a verb to be complete, and this is why it’s so important to get them right when studying a foreign language!  Verbs and tenses in Swedish are actually not as complicated to learn as those of other languages—and in this article, you’ll find out why. We’ll look at how to form the main tenses in Swedish and discuss when to use each one; by the end,... Show more

How Long Will it Take to Learn Swedish?

Learning to understand, speak, and think in a different language is an amazing and fulfilling process. When we learn a foreign language, not only do we add a new skill to our repertoire, but we also change the very way we see and think about the world and our relationship to it.  If you’re considering taking up Swedish, you’ve likely asked these questions at some point: How long will it take to learn Swedish? And is it worth the commitment? We’ll get to the first question in a bit. As for the second question: Absolutely!  Did you know, for example, that if you learn Swedish you’ll also be able to understand Norwegian and Danish? This will open up the whole Scandinavian world to you! Three languages for the price of one!  ... Show more

Speak Like a Native: 30 Swedish Proverbs and Idioms

Proverbs are popular sayings that provide a little dose of wisdom, a truth that is sometimes so obvious it’s overlooked.  Can you think of a proverb in your native language that touched you in an important moment of your life? Well, I can think of one: "There is no time like the present." So let’s get to it! Proverbs add versatility and color to our spoken language, so today we’ll introduce you to the thirty most common Swedish proverbs. Using any one of these at just the right moment is sure to impress native speakers! If you really want your language skills to shine, knowing proverbs in the Swedish language is a great way to start. And of course, it will also help you better fit in with Swedes and gain a deeper understanding of... Show more

Studying Swedish Grammar? Here’s What to Expect.

A quick glance at some photos of Swedish cities, and you may realize that Sweden doesn’t look all that different from English-speaking countries. And didn’t the Vikings end up living in the British Isles for a while? Similarly, Swedish grammar isn’t too far off from English grammar. Whether you look at the vocabulary, word order, or verb conjugation, you’re likely to see some major similarities. Of course, when you’re learning a language, you’re probably a bit more concerned with the differences. That’s why we’ve created this page: to give you a broad overview of some of the grammatical features of Swedish and how they differ from English. The more you know now, the better-prepared you’ll be in the future! In this Swedish grammar... Show more

10 Common Questions in Swedish and How to Answer Them

Many say that conversation is an art. And more than that, conversations are our primary way of getting to know other people. There are conversations for every situation, and a good one should address topics that are of interest to both people.  The best way to start a conversation is by asking a question. But asking questions in a foreign language can feel intimidating, especially when you’re not sure what kinds of questions to ask in the first place. Learning how to ask questions in Swedish is one of the first steps that students of the language must take, after basic greeting phrases. This is mainly because questions are such a good way to start a conversation, and the trick to learning any new language is to practice as much as... Show more

Your Guide to Understanding Swedish Verbs

Verbs are considered the most important part of speech when learning any new language. They describe every single mental and physical activity we do, from the moment we wake up in the morning to falling asleep at night. Even sleeping is full of verbs: you sleep, you breathe, you relax, you dream, you toss and turn, you snore… okay, maybe you snore!  The word ‘verb’ comes from the Latin for ‘word’ - your first indication that it's pretty important. In elementary terms: these are the ‘doing’ words and they exist in every language. Verbs are essential in communication and no sentence can exist without one. When learning to speak Swedish, the verbs you know will be your building blocks to make sentences. Whether you’re commenting on the... Show more

Telling Time in Swedish – Everything You Need to Know

What’s your relationship with the clock like? Does it run your day from a morning alarm to a cut-off chime for bed, or are you more of a go-with-the-flow type, letting your mood and emotions decide how much you fall in line with time? Understanding time in Swedish is an important part of your studies. As humans, our lives are filled with habits and schedules. From waking up and going to work or gym, to missing rush hour traffic on our way home, we’re always aware of time. We have routines around coffee breaks, meetings, soccer games and vacations. In fact, time can seem rather capricious - going slowly, going fast, sometimes against us, other times on our side - like a force that has a life of its own. In science, time is often... Show more

Essential Vocabulary for Life Events in Swedish

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing's for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, "We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us." The older I get, the more I agree with him! Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person's journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you're planning to stay in for more than a quick visit, you're sure to need at least a few 'life events' phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it's generally expected that we will show up with good manners... Show more