Tricky Verb Pairs
One English verb, two or three Swedish ones: think, know, play, stop, wake, get. Pick the right verb every time — these are the swaps that instantly reveal a learner.
The verb pairs that trip every learner, in facing pairs: the three thinks (tycker = opinion, tror = belief, tänker = the activity), the three knows (känna people, veta facts, kunna skills), lie/lay and stand/set (ligger/lägger, står/ställer), åka versus gå, bli versus få, leka versus spela, sluta versus stanna — each sentence a working example of which one to reach for.
- 1
Jag tycker att svenska är svårt.
I think Swedish is hard. (my opinion)
Tip: Opinion = tycker. Never 'tänker att'.
- 2
Jag tror att det kommer att regna imorgon.
I think it'll rain tomorrow. (my guess)
Tip: Belief/guess = tror.
- 3
Jag tänker på min semester.
I'm thinking about my vacation.
Tip: The activity of thinking = tänka (på).
- 4
Känner du min syster?
Do you know my sister?
Tip: Knowing people = känna, not veta.
- 5
Jag vet att det är sant.
I know that it's true.
Tip: Facts = veta.
- 6
Jag kan svenska och engelska.
I know Swedish and English.
Tip: Skills and languages = kunna.
- 7
Boken ligger på bordet.
The book is on the table.
Tip: Position = ligger. 'Boken lägger' is the classic error.
- 8
Jag lägger boken på hyllan.
I'm putting the book on the shelf.
Tip: Putting flat = lägga.
- 9
Stolen står redan där.
The chair is already there.
Tip: Upright things stand: står.
- 10
Ställ glaset på bordet.
Put the glass on the table.
Tip: Putting upright = ställa.
- 11
Jag åker till Stockholm på fredag.
I'm going to Stockholm on Friday. (by train)
Tip: Vehicles = åka. 'Gå' means you'd walk there!
- 12
Jag går till jobbet varje dag.
I walk to work every day.
Tip: gå = on foot only.
- 13
Jag vill bli läkare.
I want to become a doctor.
Tip: Change of state = bli, not vara.
- 14
Det ska bli kul!
That'll be fun!
Tip: Not 'Det ska vara kul' — it BECOMES fun.
- 15
Han blev arg när han hörde det.
He got angry when he heard it.
Tip: became = blev.
- 16
Jag fick en present av min chef.
I got a present from my boss.
Tip: Receiving = få (fick). 'Blev en present' = you turned into one.
- 17
Fick du mitt mejl?
Did you get my email?
Tip: få, not bli.
- 18
Barnen leker i parken.
The children are playing in the park.
Tip: Free play = leka.
- 19
Vi spelade fotboll igår.
We played football yesterday.
Tip: Sports, games, instruments = spela.
- 20
Han slutade röka förra året.
He stopped smoking last year.
Tip: Cease an activity = sluta (+ bare infinitive).
- 21
Stanna här, tack!
Stop here, please! (to a taxi)
Tip: Halt movement = stanna, not stoppa.
- 22
Jag lär mig svenska.
I'm learning Swedish.
Tip: Learning = lära SIG. Bare 'lära' = teach.
- 23
Var lärde du dig engelska?
Where did you learn English?
Tip: Don't drop the 'dig'.
- 24
Jag somnade vid elva.
I fell asleep at eleven.
Tip: Falling asleep = somna; sova = the state of sleeping.
- 25
Jag vaknade klockan sju.
I woke up at seven.
Tip: Waking by yourself = vakna.
- 26
Kan du väcka mig klockan sex?
Can you wake me at six?
Tip: Waking someone else = väcka.
- 27
Jag bad honom hjälpa mig.
I asked him to help me.
Tip: Requests = be. 'Fråga' only asks questions.
- 28
Hon bad om hjälp.
She asked for help.
Tip: be om = ask for.
- 29
Får jag röka här?
May I smoke here?
Tip: Permission = få, not kunna.
- 30
Du får inte parkera här.
You mustn't park here.
Tip: Prohibition = får inte. 'Måste inte' means don't HAVE to!
- 31
Du måste inte komma om du inte vill.
You don't have to come if you don't want to.
Tip: måste inte = no obligation (also: behöver inte).
- 32
Jag gick tidigt igår.
I left early yesterday.
Tip: 'lämna' needs an object — intransitive leave = gå.