Verbs

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Future

There are several ways to express future with a verb in Swedish. In English, we can say both "He will eat" and "He is going to eat" for future time, yet there is a difference of nuance between the two. We have already seen 'ska+infinitiv' in the previous section Auxiliary Verbs. In this section the different ways of expressing future are presented and explained.

ska + infinitiv

When expressing a future event that is the result of some act of decision (and not a natural result or a prognosis), ska + infinitiv is usually used.

Exempel: Emma ska köpa mat efter jobbet.

Example: Emma will buy groceries after work.


tänker + infinitiv

The construction tänker + infinitiv is synonymous to ska + infinitiv since both have the meaning of a future event being decided.

Exempel: Emma tänker köpa mat efter jobbet.

Example: Emma will buy groceries after work.


presens + time

Although most learners of Swedish tend to think of ska + infinitiv as the definitive way to express future, it is in fact very common to use presens + an expression of future time.

Exempel: Emma köper mat efter jobbet i eftermiddag.

Example: Emma will buy groceries after work this afternoon.


kommer att + infinitiv

Whereas the above three ways to express future in many cases could be used interchangeably, the use of kommer + infinitiv is subject by stricter rules. This form of future is used when the future event is a natural consequence or a prognosis (that is an event that cannot be decided upon).

Exempel: Det kommer att regna ikväll.

Example: It's going to rain tonight.


Exercises - 'ska' or 'kommer att'?

Choose the correct form of future for the verbs in brackets: ska + infinitiv or kommer att + infinitiv.

Exempel: Peter ska ta körkort när han fyller 18 år. [ta]

1. Jag tror att det kommer att bli en regnig sommar. [bli]


2. Han ska springa marathon i juni. [springa]


3. Emma och Maria ska åka till stan. [åka]


4. Du har studerat mycket. Du kommer att klara testet. [klara]


5. Hon kommer att bli sjuk utan mössa. [bli]


6. De ska städa huset på lördag. [städa]


7. Han kommer att må bättre om han tar medicin. [må]


8. - Såg du den nya filmen igår? - Nej, men vi ska se den ikväll. [se]


9. Vi ska ha fest ikväll och ni är välkomna. [ha] stan.


10. Sara tränar mycket så hon kommer att bli duktig. [bli]