How to Use Negation in Swedish: A Complete Guide for English Learners
Understanding Basic Negation in Swedish
In Swedish, negation is often achieved using the word inte, which translates to "not" in English. It typically follows the verb in a sentence.
Negating Simple Sentences
To negate a simple sentence in Swedish, you place inte right after the verb. For example, "I don't like" is Jag tycker inte om. Notice how inte follows the verb tycker (think/like).
Jag är inte glad
I am not happy
Hon sjunger inte
She does not sing
Vi kommer inte
We are not coming
Negating Questions
When forming questions, the negation word inte also appears after the verb but before the subject if inverted. For example: "Aren't you coming?" becomes Kommer du inte?.
Är vi inte vänner?
Aren't we friends?
Arbetar han inte?
Doesn't he work?
Negation with Auxiliary Verbs
In sentences with auxiliary verbs, inte is placed between the auxiliary and the main verb, similar to English. For example: "I have not seen" translates to Jag har inte sett.
De har inte ringt
They have not called
Vi har inte ätit
We have not eaten
Common Phrases with Negation
Some commonly used negative constructions in Swedish can differ from English. For example, "no problem" is often expressed as Ingen fara, literally "no danger."
Ingen fara
No worries
Ingenting
Nothing
Practice: Turning Affirmative Sentences into Negative Ones
Practice turning these affirmative sentences into negative ones to strengthen your understanding: 1. Jag läser en bok (I'm reading a book). 2. Han äter middag (He is eating dinner). 3. Vi reser imorgon (We travel tomorrow). Use inte accordingly in each sentence.
Further Reading
- Hardest Parts of Learning Swedish
Explore common challenges in learning Swedish.
- Pronouncing Swedish: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to correctly pronounce Swedish sounds.
- Swedish Personal Pronouns
Understand and use Swedish personal pronouns effectively.