Particle placement

Level 5

Learn verb–particle–object as the basic pattern: Jag slår på ljuset. The finite verb can move ahead of the subject or a sentence adverb: Nu slår jag inte på ljuset. With a supine, the particle follows that form: Jag har slagit på ljuset.

How It Works

Swedish particle verbs (partikelverb), often called phrasal verbs, consist of a verb and a particle (like på, av, in, ut). The word order for these verbs is a crucial part of Swedish syntax and differs significantly from English.

Rule 1: Main Clauses (Huvudsatser)
In the basic subject-first main clause without an intervening sentence adverb, the particle comes directly after the lexical verb and before an ordinary object.

  • Formula: Subject + Verb + Particle + Object
  • Example: Hon fyller i blanketten. (She fills in the form.)
  • Example: De stänger av musiken. (They turn off the music.)

In a simple imperative without an intervening element, the particle follows the verb.

  • Example: Kom in! (Come in!)

Rule 2: Subordinate Clauses (Bisatser)
In the ordinary subordinate pattern, sentence adverbs such as inte precede the finite verb; the particle follows the lexical verb. Compare main-clause Jag ringde inte upp honom with subordinate eftersom jag inte ringde upp honom. This illustrates the BIFF rule.

  • Formula: ...Conjunction + Subject + (Adverbial) + Verb+Particle + Object
  • Example: Jag ser att hon fyller i blanketten. (I see that she is filling in the form.)
  • Example: Han blev arg eftersom de inte stängde av musiken. (He got angry because they didn't turn off the music.)

Rule 3: Infinitives and Compound Tenses (Perfect/Pluperfect)
When using an infinitive (e.g., after a modal verb) or a supine form (in perfect and pluperfect tenses), the particle also stays together with its verb form.

  • Infinitive with Modal: Du måste skriva under pappret. (You must sign the paper.)
  • Perfect Tense: Jag har redan lämnat in ansökan. (I have already handed in the application.)
  • Pluperfect Tense: Hon hade tagit på sig jackan innan hon gick. (She had put on her jacket before she left.)

This rule applies in both main and subordinate clauses.

Separation And Established Exceptions
In Nu slår jag inte på ljuset, jag inte separates the finite verb from på. With a nonfinite lexical verb, that verb normally precedes its particle: Nu har jag inte slagit på ljuset. Some reflexive combinations instead put sig before the particle, such as ta sig fram and ge sig av. Other modifiers can intervene in established combinations such as tycka mycket om. None of these changes joins the separately written words.

Examples (5)

  1. Jag slår på ljuset.

    I turn on the light.

    Word by Word: I turn on the light.

    Main clause: The verb slår is in the second position, and the particle på comes directly after the verb, before the object ljuset.

  2. Kan du ta av dig skorna?

    Can you take off your shoes?

    Word by Word: Can you take off you the shoes?

    Infinitive form: The particle av stays with the infinitive verb ta. The reflexive pronoun dig is part of the verb phrase ta av sig.

  3. Jag vet att han kommer tillbaka imorgon.

    I know that he is coming back tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I know that he comes back tomorrow.

    Subordinate clause: The verb kommer and particle tillbaka are together, following the subject han.

  4. Vi har redan ätit upp all mat.

    We have already eaten up all the food.

    Word by Word: We have already eaten up all the food.

    Perfect tense: The particle upp stays with the supine form of the verb, ätit.

  5. Han är ledsen för att jag inte ringde upp honom.

    He is sad because I didn't call him.

    Word by Word: He is sad because I not called up him.

    Subordinate clause with negation: The verb and particle ringde upp stay together and come after the sentence adverbial inte.

Common Mistakes

  • Separating the particle from the verb in a subordinate clause.

    Jag tror att hon skriver brevet under.
    Jag tror att hon skriver under brevet.

    In the intended sign-the-letter construction, under precedes the object brevet. This order is not caused by subordinate status; the same basic particle–object order appears in Hon skriver under brevet. The verb and particle are not universally inseparable.

  • Putting an ordinary pronoun object before upp in ringa upp.

    Jag har ringt honom upp.
    Jag har ringt upp honom.

    For ringa upp, place the pronoun object after upp. The older jacket example was not a suitable categorical error: constructions with an object followed by a prepositional phrase can occur. Learn the ordering of each established expression.

How It Connects

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

Particle placementLevel 5

Learn This First

To learn particle placement, you need to be familiar with particle verbs themselves and how Swedish word order shifts between main and subordinate clauses. Specifically, you must understand how the V2 rule affects main clauses and how the BIFF rule dictates the position of sentence elements in subordinate clauses.