Swedish Grammar #28: The Use of the Present Participle

The Swedish present participle is derived from verbs but functions like an adjective or an adverb. It resembles the English -ing form (smiling, singing, etc.), but in Swedish it is not used to form the progressive tense. Instead, it appears in adjectival constructions (to modify nouns) or in adverbial constructions (to describe the manner of an action).

In this lesson, I will explain how the present participle is formed, its meaning, its usage in sentences, and some important points to keep in mind.

1. What is the Present Participle?

The Swedish present participle is formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem, and it serves to describe an action or state in a way similar to a noun. You may think of it as corresponding to the English -ing form, but in Swedish, it is limited mainly to adjectival and adverbial uses. It is not used to form a progressive tense (be + -ing) as in English.

It is best to view the Swedish present participle as an expression used for description and explanation. For example, it often appears when modifying a noun, such as in “a running man” or “a smiling child.”

2. How to Form the Present Participle

The Swedish present participle is created by adding certain endings to the verb stem. The basic patterns are as follows:

The participial endings vary depending on the verb group. While there are patterns, exceptions exist, so it is helpful to consult a dictionary or reference material in the early stages.

Conjugation Groups and Their Tendencies

Swedish verbs fall into four conjugation groups, and the form of the present participle corresponds to these groups.

3. How to Use the Present Participle

The present participle in Swedish has three main functions:

3-1. Adjectival Use (modifying a noun)

This is the most common usage. The present participle functions as an adjective modifying a noun, expressing meanings such as “a ~ing ___” or “a ___ that is ~ing.”

Here, the present participle precedes the noun, describing its state or action.

When the present participle functions as an adjective, the article (en/ett, etc.) changes according to the noun, but the participle itself does not change form. This is a major difference from ordinary adjectives, which vary according to gender and number.

3-2. Adverbial Use (modifying a verb)

The present participle can also function like an adverb, describing how the main action is carried out.

This usage describes the manner or circumstances of the main action. It corresponds to English expressions like “He came running” or “She walked singing.” Placed after the verb, the participle forms a relationship of “main action + descriptive supplement.”

3-3. Nominal Use (functioning as a noun)

The Swedish present participle may also be used as a noun. However, this is not common. It typically appears in fixed terms, professional designations, or expressions referring to specific social groups.

Generally, this use is limited to established forms such as studerande (student) or arbetande (worker). It is not possible to freely create nominal present participles from any verb.

4. Summary

Haruno

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