A2 Swedish GrammarPast Tense (Simple Past)
Learn to describe completed actions in Swedish using the simple past tense (preteritum). Understand the four verb groups and their different past tense formations. Master regular patterns and common irregular verbs.
1Past Tense Overview
Swedish past tense (preteritum or imperfekt) is used for completed actions in the past. Like present tense, the past tense form is the same for all persons - no conjugation needed for different subjects. Swedish verbs are divided into four groups, and each group forms the past tense differently. Learning which group a verb belongs to is key to forming the past correctly.
Same Form for All Subjects
| Subject | Past Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| jag | talade | I spoke |
| du | talade | you spoke |
| han/hon | talade | he/she spoke |
| vi | talade | we spoke |
| ni | talade | you (pl) spoke |
| de | talade | they spoke |
The verb form never changes regardless of subject
Examples
Jag arbetade igår.
I worked yesterday.
arbeta → arbetade (Group 1)
Hon läste en bok.
She read a book.
läsa → läste (Group 2)
Vi bodde i Stockholm.
We lived in Stockholm.
bo → bodde (Group 3)
De kom sent.
They came late.
komma → kom (Group 4 - irregular)
2Group 1 Verbs (-ade)
Group 1 is the largest group and the easiest to learn. These verbs have infinitives ending in -a and form the past tense by changing -a to -ade. This is the most regular and predictable pattern. Many common verbs belong to this group.
Group 1 Pattern
| Infinitive | Present | Past | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tala | talar | talade | to speak |
| arbeta | arbetar | arbetade | to work |
| studera | studerar | studerade | to study |
| öppna | öppnar | öppnade | to open |
| stänga | stänger | stängde | to close |
| handla | handlar | handlade | to shop |
Examples
Jag talade med honom igår.
I spoke with him yesterday.
tala → talade
Hon studerade medicin.
She studied medicine.
studera → studerade
Vi handlade mat på lördagen.
We shopped for food on Saturday.
handla → handlade
De öppnade dörren.
They opened the door.
öppna → öppnade
3Group 2 Verbs (-de/-te)
Group 2 verbs have stems ending in a consonant. They form the past by adding -de or -te depending on the final consonant of the stem. Add -te after voiceless consonants (k, p, t, s) and -de after voiced consonants and vowels. The present tense often ends in -er.
Group 2 Pattern
| Infinitive | Present | Past | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| läsa | läser | läste | -te (after s) |
| köpa | köper | köpte | -te (after p) |
| ringa | ringer | ringde | -de (after ng) |
| ställa | ställer | ställde | -de (after ll) |
| höra | hör | hörde | -de (after r) |
| känna | känner | kände | -de (after nn) |
Examples
Jag läste tidningen i morse.
I read the newspaper this morning.
läsa → läste
Hon köpte en ny bil.
She bought a new car.
köpa → köpte
Han ringde mig igår kväll.
He called me last night.
ringa → ringde
Vi hörde musiken.
We heard the music.
höra → hörde
4Group 3 and 4 (Short Verbs & Irregulars)
Group 3 consists of short verbs (one syllable, ending in a vowel) that double the consonant and add -de: bo → bodde. Group 4 contains irregular verbs with vowel changes - these must be memorized. These include many of the most common Swedish verbs.
Important Irregular Verbs (Group 4)
| Infinitive | Present | Past | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vara | är | var | to be |
| ha | har | hade | to have |
| göra | gör | gjorde | to do/make |
| gå | går | gick | to go/walk |
| komma | kommer | kom | to come |
| se | ser | såg | to see |
| ta | tar | tog | to take |
| ge | ger | gav | to give |
Examples
Jag var sjuk förra veckan.
I was sick last week.
vara → var (to be)
Hon hade en hund som barn.
She had a dog as a child.
ha → hade (to have)
Vi gick till parken.
We went to the park.
gå → gick (to go)
Han såg filmen igår.
He saw the movie yesterday.
se → såg (to see)