Introduction to Swedish: Lesson 3
Swedish for to want is att vilja.
I want to have it therefore it is my vill to have it.
You would expect it to become jeg viljar for I want but in fact there is an exception with this word. This exception works in our favor, though, because the word becomes even more like the one we have in English: vill.
If you want to say I want to have it in Swedish you don’t have to say to - att anymore so you say I want have it. What is that:
This can also translate as we want it because in Swedish you never say we want it simply and you always have to say we want to have it.
Remember that to be was att vara. What is:
Let’s learn another word that we use for the same function as in English and that is very alike:
Swedish for to be able to is att kunna.
Literally it is to can but you don’t say to can in English but you do in Swedish. This word also doesn’t follow the pattern of becoming jag kunnar. Instead, it just becomes like the English for for can written in Swedish.
Take a guess what that is and write:
Good. We have now learned two combinations: att vilje - vill and at kunna - kan. While we are on it, I want to introduce onemore word.
Swedish for will is ska.
The word ska means shall or will in Swedish and it is used to form the future just like in English! You use ska instead of will when you are talking about the future. How would you say:
The last word we learn in this lesson is:
Swedish for to do is att göra.
Let’s practice our knowledge now:
Let’s also learn that:
Swedish for something is något.
You ask me if I have something?... No, I no got something.
How would you say:
If you want to say I want something in Swedish you would usually say I want to have something. Try applying this:
Summarizing everything: we have learnt att vilja (to want) - vill (want), att kunna (to be able to) - kan (can), then ska (shall/will) and now we also know the words göra and något.
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