A2 Swedish GrammarPrepositions (Location & Direction)
Master Swedish prepositions for expressing location, direction, and movement. Learn the key differences between 'i' and 'på', when to use 'till' vs 'mot', and other essential preposition patterns.
1I vs På (In/On/At)
The prepositions 'i' and 'på' are used for location, similar to English 'in', 'on', and 'at'. However, Swedish uses them differently than English in many cases. Generally, 'i' is used for enclosed spaces and 'på' for surfaces or activities. But many uses must be memorized as they don't follow logical patterns.
I vs På Usage
| Use 'i' | Use 'på' | English |
|---|---|---|
| i Stockholm | på landet | in Stockholm / in the countryside |
| i rummet | på golvet | in the room / on the floor |
| i skolan | på universitetet | at school / at university |
| i bilen | på bussen | in the car / on the bus |
| i morse | på morgonen | this morning / in the morning |
Many uses are idiomatic and must be memorized
Examples
Jag bor i Göteborg.
I live in Gothenburg.
Cities use 'i'
Hon arbetar på kontoret.
She works at the office.
Workplaces often use 'på'
Boken ligger på bordet.
The book is on the table.
Surfaces use 'på'
Vi träffas på fredag.
We'll meet on Friday.
Days of week use 'på'
2Direction: Till, Mot, Från
For expressing direction and movement, Swedish uses 'till' (to), 'mot' (towards), and 'från' (from). 'Till' indicates a destination you will reach. 'Mot' suggests direction without necessarily arriving. 'Från' shows origin or starting point.
Direction Prepositions
| Swedish | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| till | to | destination reached |
| mot | towards | direction/facing |
| från | from | origin/source |
| genom | through | passing through |
| förbi | past/by | passing by |
Examples
Jag går till affären.
I'm going to the store.
till = to (destination)
Hon springer mot parken.
She runs towards the park.
mot = towards (direction)
Tåget kommer från Malmö.
The train comes from Malmö.
från = from (origin)
Vi körde genom tunneln.
We drove through the tunnel.
genom = through
3Position: Under, Över, Bakom, Framför
These prepositions describe the position of one thing relative to another. They work similarly to their English equivalents. Some can also express movement when combined with motion verbs.
Position Prepositions
| Swedish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| under | under/below | under bordet |
| över | over/above | över staden |
| bakom | behind | bakom huset |
| framför | in front of | framför dörren |
| bredvid | beside/next to | bredvid mig |
| mellan | between | mellan oss |
Examples
Katten sitter under soffan.
The cat sits under the sofa.
under = under/below
Fågeln flyger över sjön.
The bird flies over the lake.
över = over/above
Bilen står bakom huset.
The car is behind the house.
bakom = behind
Vänta framför ingången.
Wait in front of the entrance.
framför = in front of
4Time Prepositions
Swedish uses different prepositions for expressing time. The choice depends on the time unit and context. 'Om' is especially important as it means 'in' when talking about future time (in 5 minutes).
Time Prepositions
| Swedish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| om | in (future time) | om fem minuter |
| för...sedan | ago | för tre dagar sedan |
| sedan | since | sedan i morse |
| under | during | under sommaren |
| innan | before | innan middagen |
| efter | after | efter jobbet |
Examples
Vi ses om en timme.
See you in an hour.
om = in (future)
Hon kom för två dagar sedan.
She came two days ago.
för...sedan = ago
Jag har väntat sedan klockan tre.
I have been waiting since three o'clock.
sedan = since
Vi äter efter filmen.
We'll eat after the movie.
efter = after