Resolved questions
En fråga om svensk verb (på engelska)
In english, in a typical sentence, one would say "I need to go to the store." Since "att" is the Swedish equivalent of "to", I would think that to say this in Swedish, I must say "Jag behöver att gå till affären." But in almost all cases the "att" is not there: "Jag behöver gå till affären." Is this a mannerism of spoken Swedish or is it standard? Can someone explain it in detail?
Share:
Answers
Sort by:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voting
"Att" is often dropped for some reason. In some cases it sounds more natural than others. There are some cases where "att" can't be dropped, but I'm not sure about the rules. I can only think of "för att" / "in order to".
För att komma hem / In order to come home.
För att bli snygg / In order to become handsome.
This is confusing because "Därför" / "because" is often pronounced, and sometimes informally written, "för".
Därför att det är kul / Because it's fun.
But many would just say "för det är kul". So, if you want to say "because", "att" can be dropped. But when you want to say "in order to" you can't drop it unless there is a subject.
"För vi ska komma hem så måste vi..." -> works.
But not this:
"För komma hem så måste vi...".
"Att" also means "that". So, in that case it's not "to".
Jag vet att du är ond = I know that you are evil.
För att komma hem / In order to come home.
För att bli snygg / In order to become handsome.
This is confusing because "Därför" / "because" is often pronounced, and sometimes informally written, "för".
Därför att det är kul / Because it's fun.
But many would just say "för det är kul". So, if you want to say "because", "att" can be dropped. But when you want to say "in order to" you can't drop it unless there is a subject.
"För vi ska komma hem så måste vi..." -> works.
But not this:
"För komma hem så måste vi...".
"Att" also means "that". So, in that case it's not "to".
Jag vet att du är ond = I know that you are evil.
Submit your answer
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.
If you copy this answer from another italki answer page, please state the URL of where you got your answer from.
0 comments
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.