hinner + Infinitive

Have Time to

Level 4

'hinner' + [verb in infinitive] = 'have time to do [verb]'. It's used to talk about fitting an activity into a schedule.

How It Works

The pattern 'hinner + infinitive' is essential for discussing time management and scheduling in Swedish.

Structure and Conjugation
The verb is hinna. Like other verbs that function as auxiliaries, it is followed directly by the main verb in its infinitive form. You do not use the infinitive marker att.

The main conjugations are:

  • hinna (infinitive)
  • hinner (present)
  • hann (past/preterite)
  • hunnit (supinum - used with har/hade)

Usage in Sentences
The structure is typically: Subject + hinner/hann + (inte) + Infinitive, or Subject + har + (inte) + hunnit + Infinitive

Present Tense:
Jag hinner äta frukost. (I have time to eat breakfast.)

Past Tense:
De hann inte köpa biljetter. (They didn't have time to buy tickets.)

Perfect Tense:
Har du hunnit ringa din mamma? (Have you had time to call your mom?)

Negation
To negate the sentence, place inte after the finite verb in a subject-first declarative main clause: Jag har inte hunnit ringa. In a question, the subject can intervene: Hinner du inte ringa? In an ordinary subordinate clause, inte comes before the finite verb: att jag inte hinner ringa.
Vi hinner inte se hela filmen. (We don't have time to see the whole movie.)

Examples (5)

  1. Om vi skyndar oss hinner vi se hela filmen.

    If we hurry, we'll have time to see the whole movie.

    Word by Word: If we hurry us have-time we see whole the-movie.

  2. Jag hann precis lämna in uppgiften innan deadline.

    I just managed to submit the assignment before the deadline.

    Word by Word: I had-time just submit in the-assignment before deadline.

  3. Hinner du ta en kaffe efter jobbet?

    Do you have time to grab a coffee after work?

    Word by Word: Have-time you take a coffee after the-work?

  4. Jag har inte hunnit städa lägenheten den här veckan.

    I haven't had time to clean the apartment this week.

    Word by Word: I have not had-time clean the-apartment this here week.

  5. Hon hinner alltid ringa sina föräldrar på söndagar.

    She always has time to call her parents on Sundays.

    Word by Word: She has-time always call her parents on Sundays.

Common Mistakes

  • Incorrectly adding the infinitive marker 'att' after 'hinner'.

    Jag hinner att dricka kaffe innan tåget går.
    Jag hinner dricka kaffe innan tåget går.

    'Hinner' functions like a modal verb (e.g., 'kan', 'vill', 'måste') and is followed directly by the infinitive verb without 'att'.

  • Using a conjugated verb instead of the infinitive after 'hinner'.

    Hon hinner skriver mejlet nu.
    Hon hinner skriva mejlet nu.

    The verb following 'hinner' must always be in its base form, the infinitive (e.g., 'skriva', not 'skriver').

How It Connects

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

hinner + InfinitiveLevel 4Have Time to

Learn This First

To use 'hinner + infinitive', you need to understand how Swedish auxiliary-like verbs work. Specifically, you must know that 'hinner' (to have time to) is followed directly by the infinitive form of the action verb, similar to how modal verbs like 'kan' or 'vill' are used. Basic verb conjugation is also required to correctly form 'hinner' in the present or past tense.

Words in This Pattern

hinna