-ning

Action/result Noun

Level 3

The suffix -ning is added to a verb to create a noun. It's similar to adding '-ing' or '-tion' in English. For example, planera (to plan) becomes planering (planning).

How It Works

The -ning suffix is a very productive way to create nouns from verbs in Swedish. It can describe either the action/process itself or the concrete result of that action.

Formation:
The suffix is added to the verb stem. The stem is usually the infinitive form minus -a.

  • träna (to train) → trän- + -ing → träning (training)
  • rita (to draw) → rit- + -ning → ritning (drawing)
  • öppna (to open) → öppn- + -ing → öppning (opening)

Meaning:
1. The action or process: Refers to the activity itself.
- Löpning är bra för hälsan. (Running is good for your health.)
2. The result or instance: Refers to a concrete result, object, or specific instance of the action.
- Jag läste en varning i tidningen. (I read a warning in the newspaper.)
- Det finns en öppning i väggen. (There is an opening in the wall.)

Grammar Rules:

  • Gender: Nouns formed with this action-noun suffix are en-words.
  • Definite Form: They take the definite suffix -en. Ex: planeringen (the planning).
  • Plural Form: The plural is formed by adding -ar. Ex: varningar (warnings).
  • Definite Plural: The definite plural is -arna. Ex: varningarna (the warnings).

The Two Suffix Shapes
-Ing occurs after stems such as trän-, öppn-, segl- and planer-: träning, öppning, segling, planering. Other stems use -ning: ritning, lagning, läsning. There are lexical exceptions, so consult the word rather than extending one spelling rule without limits.

Action, Result And Lexical Meaning
Läsning can name an activity; ritning can name a drawing, and öppning can name an opening in a wall. The suffix does not promise that every verb produces an ordinary noun in every possible sense. Activity readings may be uncountable even when a related event or result reading allows plural forms.

Examples (5)

  1. Jag tycker om läsning.

    I like reading.

    Word by Word: I / like / reading.

    The verb läsa (to read) becomes the noun läsning (reading) to describe the activity.

  2. Bra planering är nyckeln till framgång.

    Good planning is the key to success.

    Word by Word: Good planning is the-key to success.

    The verb planera (to plan) becomes the noun planering (planning).

  3. Kan du hjälpa mig med den här översättningen?

    Can you help me with this translation?

    Word by Word: Can you help me with this here the-translation?

    Here, översättning (from översätta, to translate) refers to the result of the action: the translated text.

  4. Vi fick en varning om stormen.

    We received a warning about the storm.

    Word by Word: We got a warning about the-storm.

    varning (from varna, to warn) is a specific instance or result of the action of warning.

  5. Föreställningen börjar klockan sju.

    The performance begins at seven o'clock.

    Word by Word: The-performance begins clock seven.

    Föreställning has a lexicalized meaning performance or showing, naming an event here. Its precise meaning must be learned as a word, not calculated mechanically from the present-day verb föreställa.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong gender for an action noun in -(n)ing.

    Jag såg ett varning.
    Jag såg en varning.

    Varning is a common-gender noun: en varning. The action-noun suffix -(n)ing gives common-gender nouns; this rule concerns the suffix, not every unrelated word that happens to contain the letters ning.

  • Confusing the verb with the noun form.

    Jag gillar att målning.
    Jag gillar att måla. / Jag gillar målning.

    In Jag gillar att måla, infinitive-marker att introduces a verb. Målning is a noun and can be used without that marker. Att also has other uses, such as introducing a finite clause, so this is not a rule for every word following any att.

How It Connects

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-ningLevel 3Action/result Noun

Learn This First

To understand the -ning suffix, you need to know how to identify verb stems, as this suffix transforms an action (verb) into a noun. Since the resulting word is a noun, you must also understand how noun genders work in Swedish to use it correctly in sentences.

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