ska/skall
Will/shall
Use 'ska' to talk about the future, plans, or what you're supposed to do. It's followed by a verb in its base form.
How It Works
'Ska' is one of the most important auxiliary (modal) verbs in Swedish. It does not change its form based on the subject (jag ska, du ska, hon ska, etc.).
It has several key uses:
- Future plans and intentions: This is a common use. It's like saying 'am/is/are going to' or 'will' when talking about a plan.
Jag ska resa till Stockholm nästa vecka. (I'm going to travel to Stockholm next week.) - Recommendations and strong suggestions: It can be used to mean 'should' or 'ought to'.
Du ska se den nya filmen, den är jättebra! (You should see the new movie, it's great!) - Obligations or rules: It describes what someone is supposed to do.
Man ska borsta tänderna två gånger om dagen. (You are supposed to brush your teeth twice a day.) - Hearsay or reported information: It can express what is said or rumored to be true.
Han ska vara en duktig kock. (He is said to be a skilled chef.)
Ska vs. Skall
In modern Swedish, ska is the standard form used in both speaking and writing. Skall is an accepted variant with the same meaning; some readers perceive a more formal or traditional flavor. Ska is normal in modern speech and writing, including official texts.
Remember, because ska is a modal verb, the main verb that follows it is always in its base form (infinitive) and never uses the infinitive marker att.
An expressed following verb is not obligatory in every use: Jag ska hem means “I am going home.” Like other modern Swedish verbs, ska does not agree with the subject in person or number.
Examples (5)
- Jag ska resa till Göteborg i sommar.
I am going to travel to Gothenburg this summer.
Word by Word: I shall travel to Gothenburg in summer.
- Vad ska vi göra ikväll?
What shall we do tonight?
Word by Word: What shall we do tonight?
- Du ska inte prata med mat i munnen.
You shouldn't talk with food in your mouth.
Word by Word: You shall not talk with food in the mouth.
Here, 'ska' expresses a rule or an obligation.
- Enligt väderprognosen ska det snöa imorgon.
According to the weather forecast, it's supposed to snow tomorrow.
Word by Word: According to the-weather-forecast shall it snow tomorrow.
- Han ska vara den bästa studenten i klassen.
He is said to be the best student in the class.
Word by Word: He shall be the best student in the-class.
This use of 'ska' indicates hearsay or something that is reported to be true.
Common Mistakes
Using 'att' after 'ska'
Vi ska att äta middag nu.Vi ska äta middag nu.A verbal complement directly governed by ska is a bare infinitive: ska äta. Do not insert att before it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'ska' or 'skall' correctly, you need to understand how Swedish verbs are generally conjugated and where they sit in a sentence. Since 'ska' is an auxiliary verb used to form the future tense, having a grasp of basic tense concepts and word order is essential for constructing meaningful sentences about future plans or predictions.
- Basic verb conjugation
Understanding how verbs function in their basic forms is necessary before introducing auxiliary verbs like 'ska'.
Foundations - Word order basics
Auxiliary verbs like 'ska' occupy the second position in a main clause, requiring knowledge of standard Swedish sentence structure.
Foundations - Tense concepts
The pattern 'ska' is used to express future intention or prediction, which requires a conceptual understanding of how time is expressed through tenses.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- kommer attGoing to
Ska commonly presents a plan, intention or requirement. Kommer att presents a future prediction; it is not restricted to events outside anyone’s control.
Level 2 - attTo (Infinitive Marker)
Rule exception: Modal verbs like 'ska' are a major exception to the rule of using the infinitive marker 'att' before a verb in its infinitive form.
Level 1 - måsteMust/have to
Both can express obligation. Måste emphasizes necessity, while ska can state a rule or expected action; context determines how forceful either sounds.
Level 2 - börShould/ought to
Comparison: Both 'ska' and 'bör' can mean 'should'. 'Bör' is generally used for advice or a recommendation, while 'ska' can be a stronger suggestion or part of a plan.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ska/skall in Bubblegum
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