Contents
Chapter 4 · Words That Change (Inflection)

Words That Do Not Change

Which Swedish words can I safely learn as fixed forms?

Before learning endings, learn the words that usually do not take endings at all. This saves effort: not every Swedish word has gender, number, tense, or comparison.

In a sentence like this:

Jag går till skolan och läser i biblioteket.
I go to school and study in the library.

the words till, och, and i do not change. You do not make plural forms, definite forms, or tense forms from them.

The Main Fixed Word Groups

Prepositions

Prepositions show relations such as place, direction, company, or source.

on the table
in Sweden
to school
from work
with a friend

The word itself stays fixed:

ii
tilltill

Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words or clauses.

coffee and tea
big but expensive
now or later

Again, the spelling does not change:

ochoch
menmen
ellereller

Subordinating Conjunctions

These words introduce a subordinate clause, a part of a sentence that depends on a main clause. Swedish grammar books sometimes call them subjunctions; the standard English term is subordinating conjunctions.

.
I think that she is coming.
.
We go home when it rains.

Forms such as att, om, när, and eftersom are learned as fixed words.

Interjections

Short reaction words are also normally fixed:

hello
oh!
yuck!
yes
no

Chapter summary

Word groupWhat it doesInflection habit
prepositionshows a relationkeep the word fixed
coordinating conjunctionjoins equal words or clauseskeep the word fixed
subordinating conjunctionintroduces a dependent clausekeep the word fixed
interjectionexpresses a reactionkeep the word fixed
Practice

Study check

1 activity
  1. 1
    1. och
    2. från
    3. bil
    4. läsa
    5. hej
    6. när
    7. stor
    Show answer key
    unchanged: och, från, hej, när
    changes possible: bil, läsa, stor

    Compare each response with the answer key.

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