till
To
Use 'till' to say 'to' when talking about going somewhere or giving something to someone.
How It Works
The preposition till is one of the most common in Swedish. Its primary meaning is 'to', and it's used to indicate direction and destination.
Main Uses of 'till':
- Destination (Places): Use 'till' when you are talking about moving towards a specific place, like a city, a building, or a room.
Jag reser till Sverige. (I am traveling to Sweden.)
Vi går till stationen. (We are walking to the station.) - Recipient (People): Use 'till' when you are giving something to someone or speaking to someone.
Jag ger presenten till dig. (I am giving the present to you.)
Kan du säga det till henne? (Can you say that to her?) - Time (Until): 'Till' can also mean 'until' or 'to' when referring to a point in time.
Mötet är från klockan två till tre. (The meeting is from two o'clock to three.)
It's important not to confuse 'till' with prepositions of location like i (in) or på (on). While 'i' and 'på' often describe where something is, 'till' describes where something is going.
Examples (5)
- Jag åker till Stockholm.
I am going to Stockholm.
Word by Word: I travel to Stockholm.
- Hon går till doktorn.
She is going to the doctor.
Word by Word: She goes to the doctor.
- Han ger boken till mig.
He gives the book to me.
Word by Word: He gives the book to me.
- Barnen springer till parken.
The children are running to the park.
Word by Word: The children run to the park.
- Vi har tid till fredag.
We have time until Friday.
Word by Word: We have time until Friday.
Common Mistakes
Choosing a location phrase when you intend to name the destination.
Jag går i affären.Jag går till affären.Both sentences are grammatical. Jag går till affären describes going to the store; Jag går i affären places the walking inside the store. Use till for the intended destination, not because movement verbs prohibit i.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- iIn
'i' (in) is a preposition of location, describing where someone or something is. It contrasts with 'till', which is a preposition of direction (going towards a place).
Level 1 - påOn/at
Like 'i', 'på' (on/at) is another common preposition of location. Understanding the difference between being 'på' a place and going 'till' a place is a fundamental concept.
Level 1 - frånFrom
Från gives a source and till a goal in a route: från Lund till Malmö. They contrast in that use, but both have other meanings, so they are not interchangeable opposites in every expression.
Level 1 - attTo (Infinitive Marker)
Till Stockholm uses a preposition; att springa uses an infinitive marker. Do not translate every English to as till. Till can also introduce a clause or infinitive in appropriate larger constructions, such as nyckeln till att lyckas.
Level 1
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Practice till in Bubblegum
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