Brukade construction

Level 5

Use brukade + infinitive to describe what someone habitually did, or what was usually the case, at a past time.

How It Works

brukade makes the habitual or usual character of a past situation explicit. It provides a nuance that the simple past tense (preteritum) often lacks.

Structure:
The structure is straightforward and consistent for all subjects:

  • Subject + brukade + Infinitive Verb

For example: Jag brukade spela piano. (I used to play the piano.)

Past Habits and Past States
Jag brukade spela piano på kvällarna says what was customary then. The habit may be contrasted with the present, but context determines whether it continues. The simple past can also describe habits: Jag spelade piano varje kväll.

Do not translate every English “used to” with brukade. For one continuous former residence, Jag bodde tidigare i Göteborg is clearer. Jag brukade bo i Göteborg på somrarna gives a recurring-stay reading. Jag bodde i Göteborg i fem år normally presents a finished period; use Jag har bott i Göteborg i fem år if the residence continues now.

Negation and Questions
Negating brukade is simple. In a subject-first main clause, place inte after it. With inversion, the subject can intervene: Då brukade hon inte dricka kaffe. In a subordinate clause, use att hon inte brukade dricka kaffe.

  • Han brukade inte tycka om kaffe. (He didn't use to like coffee.)

To form a question, brukade moves to the first position, using verb-first order for an ordinary yes/no question.

  • Brukade du cykla till skolan? (Did you use to bike to school?)

Present Tense Counterpart
Remember that brukade is the past tense of brukar, which means 'usually do' or 'tend to'.

  • Present: Jag brukar dricka te på morgonen. (I usually drink tea in the morning.)
  • Past: Jag brukade dricka kaffe på morgonen. (I used to drink coffee in the morning.)

Examples (5)

  1. När jag var barn brukade jag leka i den här parken varje dag.

    When I was a child, I used to play in this park every day.

    Word by Word: When I was child used to I play in this the park every day.

  2. Det brukade finnas en gammal bokhandel på hörnet.

    There used to be an old bookstore on the corner.

    Word by Word: It used to exist an old bookstore on the corner.

    This presents the bookshop as part of the usual earlier scene. If you simply mean that one particular shop formerly existed there, Det fanns tidigare en gammal bokhandel på hörnet is more direct.

  3. Vi brukade inte ha mobiltelefoner när vi var unga.

    We did not usually have mobile phones when we were young.

    Word by Word: We used to not have mobile phones when we were young.

    Brukade inte ha describes what was usual at the relevant times. For the general historical statement that we had no mobile phones at all, use Vi hade inte mobiltelefoner när vi var unga.

  4. Brukade du och din bror bråka mycket?

    Did you and your brother use to fight a lot?

    Word by Word: Used to you and your brother fight much?

  5. Förr i tiden brukade folk skriva brev till varandra.

    In the old days, people used to write letters to each other.

    Word by Word: Formerly in time used to people write letters to each other.

    This example shows how 'brukade' can describe a general habit of a group of people in the past.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'brukade' for a single past event.

    Jag brukade se den filmen igår.
    Jag såg den filmen igår.

    For one viewing yesterday, use såg. Brukade needs a habitual or usual-situation reading in the relevant past period. A bounded period such as a particular summer can contain repeated events; a date expression is not itself forbidden.

  • Using a past tense verb after 'brukade' instead of an infinitive.

    Hon brukade bodde i Malmö.
    Hon brukade bo i Malmö.

    After brukade, use infinitive bo, not past bodde. A recurring-stay context makes the habitual meaning clear: Hon brukade bo i Malmö på somrarna. For one former residence, Hon bodde tidigare i Malmö is more direct.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Brukade constructionLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand the 'brukade' construction (habitual past), you first need to be familiar with its present tense counterpart 'brukar'. Since 'brukade' is a past tense form, you must also understand how Swedish verbs are conjugated in the past tense using the -de/-te endings and have a general grasp of past tense concepts.

Words in This Pattern

bruka