fortfarande
Still
Fortfarande = still. It's an adverb used to show that something hasn't stopped.
How It Works
The Swedish adverb fortfarande corresponds to English 'still' when a situation continues. The reference point may be now or another time: Han bodde fortfarande hemma då. It does not translate every sense of English still, such as motionless.
Placement in Sentences:
The position of 'fortfarande' is important and follows standard Swedish word order rules for adverbs.
- In a main clause: In a subject-first clause it commonly comes after the finite verb; it can also occur elsewhere, including at the end.
Jag bor fortfarande i Malmö. (I still live in Malmö.) - In a subordinate clause: In the usual medial position it comes before the finite verb, following the BIFF rule.
Hon sa att hon fortfarande älskade honom. (She said that she still loved him.) - In a yes/no question: It comes after the verb-subject pair.
Regnar det fortfarande? (Is it still raining?)
To express the opposite, 'no longer' or 'not anymore', Swedes use inte längre. Using 'inte fortfarande' is not common.
Compare Hon är fortfarande inte här (she is still not here) with Hon är inte här längre (she is no longer here). Both contain negation, but they describe different histories.
Examples (4)
- Jag väntar fortfarande på bussen.
I'm still waiting for the bus.
Word by Word: I wait still for the bus.
- Är du fortfarande arg på mig?
Are you still angry with me?
Word by Word: Are you still angry at me?
- Han bodde fortfarande hemma när han var 30 år.
He still lived at home when he was 30 years old.
Word by Word: He lived still at-home when he was 30 years.
- Vi vet att de fortfarande är vänner.
We know that they are still friends.
Word by Word: We know that they still are friends.
Notice how 'fortfarande' comes before the verb 'är' in this subordinate clause.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect word order in a main clause.
Fortfarande jag gillar kaffe.Jag gillar fortfarande kaffe.If fortfarande starts a declarative main clause, the finite verb follows it: Fortfarande gillar jag kaffe. The subject-first alternative Jag gillar fortfarande kaffe is also grammatical. Fortfarande is not required to stand after the verb in every sentence.
Confusing 'fortfarande' (still) with 'redan' (already).
Filmen har fortfarande börjat.Filmen har redan börjat.For the intended meaning “The film has already started”, use redan. Fortfarande expresses continuation, for example Filmen pågår fortfarande. Redan does not itself mean completed: Hon bor redan här means She already lives here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'fortfarande' (still), you need to understand basic Swedish sentence structure to place the adverb correctly, as well as basic verb forms to describe the action or state that is continuing.
Related Patterns
- redanAlready
Redan means already, presenting a situation as reached earlier than expected or relevant. Fortfarande means still, presenting a situation as continuing. They are not simple antonyms, and redan does not require a completed action.
Level 1 - Verb-second rule
If fortfarande is first in a declarative main clause, the finite verb follows: Fortfarande väntar jag. In Jag väntar fortfarande the subject is first. V2 constrains the finite verb, not one fixed position for the adverb.
Level 3 - Subordinate clause word order
In its normal medial subordinate position, fortfarande precedes the finite verb: att de fortfarande är vänner. Adverbials can also have other positions depending on focus.
Level 3 - inteNot
For no longer, use inte längre. Fortfarande inte means still not: Hon har fortfarande inte kommit. Inte fortfarande is possible with a different scope and is not a general replacement for inte längre.
Level 1 - alltidAlways
Similar adverb type. Both 'fortfarande' (still) and 'alltid' (always) are temporal adverbs that describe when or how long an action occurs, but 'fortfarande' focuses on continuation while 'alltid' focuses on frequency.
Level 1
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Patterns that build on this one.
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Practice fortfarande in Bubblegum
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