Irregular verbs
Some common verbs change their forms in unpredictable ways. You need to learn these special forms by heart.
How It Works
While most Swedish verbs follow predictable rules, a group of very common verbs are irregular. Their principal forms may differ from the weak patterns. Strong verbs have recurring vowel-change patterns; some other verbs are more exceptional. Supine is a nonfinite verb form used in compound tenses, not a tense by itself.
The four main forms to learn for any verb are:
- Infinitive: The base form, e.g., 'att vara' (to be)
- Present: A finite form often used for current or habitual situations, e.g., 'är' (am/is/are)
- Past (Preteritum): The simple past form, e.g., 'var' (was/were)
- Supine: Used with 'ha' to form tenses like the perfect, e.g., 'varit' (been)
Here are some of the most common irregular verbs:
Infinitive - Present - Past - Supine
att vara - är - var - varit (to be)
att ha - har - hade - haft (to have)
att bli - blir - blev - blivit (to become)
att göra - gör - gjorde - gjort (to do/make)
att gå - går - gick - gått (to go)
att se - ser - såg - sett (to see)
att ta - tar - tog - tagit (to take)
att komma - kommer - kom - kommit (to come)
att säga - säger - sa/sade - sagt (to say)
att veta - vet - visste - vetat (to know)
att dricka - dricker - drack - druckit (to drink)
att skriva - skriver - skrev - skrivit (to write)
att äta - äter - åt - ätit (to eat)
att få - får - fick - fått (to get/receive)
att kunna - kan - kunde - kunnat (to be able to/can)
att vilja - vill - ville - velat (to want)
Examples (6)
- Jag är student.
I am a student.
Word by Word: I am student.
'är' is the irregular present tense form of 'att vara' (to be).
- Vi gick på bio igår.
We went to the cinema yesterday.
Word by Word: We went to cinema yesterday.
The past tense of the irregular verb 'att gå' (to go) is 'gick'.
- Har du sett den filmen?
Have you seen that movie?
Word by Word: Have you seen that movie?
The supine form of 'att se' (to see) is 'sett'. It's used with har to form the perfect tense.
- Han drack ett glas vatten.
He drank a glass of water.
Word by Word: He drank a glass water.
- De kom för sent.
They came too late.
Word by Word: They came too late.
- Vad sa du?
What did you say?
Word by Word: What said you?
Common Mistakes
Applying regular past tense endings to irregular verbs.
Jag gådde hem.Jag gick hem.'Att gå' is an irregular verb. Its past tense is 'gick', not 'gådde'. You cannot add the regular '-ade' ending used for group-1 -ar verbs (tala → talade). The '-de' and '-te' endings belong to weak group-2 -er verbs, such as ringa → ringde.
Using the past tense form instead of the supine with 'har'.
Jag har såg filmen.Jag har sett filmen.After 'har' (have), you must use the supine form ('sett'), not the past tense form ('såg'). This is a key part of forming the perfect tense.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Irregular verbs are exceptions to standard conjugation rules. To study them effectively, you should first understand how regular verbs are conjugated and the basic concepts of grammatical tenses.
- Basic verb conjugation
Understanding the general mechanic of how Swedish verbs change form is necessary before identifying which verbs deviate from the standard patterns.
Foundations - Tense concepts
Since irregular verbs are categorized by their unique forms in the present, past, and supine, a learner must first understand the grammatical concept of tenses.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- -arFirst Conjugation Verbs
This is the first and most common group of regular verbs. Understanding this predictable pattern helps you see why irregular verbs are different and need to be memorized.
Level 1 - -erSecond Conjugation Verbs
The weak -er patterns are useful comparisons, but many strong verbs also end in -er in the present. The present ending alone does not establish the conjugation group.
Level 1 - Past tense (strong verbs)
Strong verbs form a distinct conjugation pattern, often with vowel changes and an -it supine, such as dricka–drack–druckit. They are often grouped with irregular verbs in beginner materials, but their forms are not wholly patternless.
Level 1 - har + SupinePerfect Tense
To form the perfect tense ('have done'), you need the supine form of a verb. For irregular verbs, this form (e.g., sett, gått, varit) must be memorized.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Irregular verbs in Bubblegum
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