B1 Swedish GrammarSubjunctive & Conditional
Express hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests in Swedish using 'skulle' and conditional constructions. Master if-clauses (om-satser) and understand how Swedish handles unreal conditions.
1Conditional with Skulle
Swedish expresses conditional meaning primarily using 'skulle' + infinitive. This construction is used for hypothetical situations, polite requests, and talking about what would happen under certain conditions. Unlike some languages, Swedish doesn't have a separate subjunctive verb form - 'skulle' handles most of these functions.
Skulle - Uses
| Use | Swedish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothetical | Jag skulle hjälpa | I would help |
| Polite request | Skulle du kunna... | Could you... |
| Polite wish | Jag skulle vilja... | I would like... |
| Past intention | Hon skulle komma | She was going to come |
Examples
Jag skulle gärna hjälpa dig.
I would gladly help you.
Hypothetical willingness
Skulle du kunna stänga fönstret?
Could you close the window?
Polite request
Det skulle vara fantastiskt!
That would be fantastic!
Hypothetical situation
Jag skulle vilja ha en kopp kaffe.
I would like a cup of coffee.
Polite wish
2If-Clauses (Om-satser)
Swedish conditional sentences typically use 'om' (if) in the if-clause. There are two main types: 1. Real conditions (possible situations): om + present tense 2. Unreal conditions (hypothetical): om + past tense, with 'skulle' in main clause Word order in om-clauses follows the subordinate clause pattern (subject before verb, adverbs before verb).
Conditional Types
| Type | If-clause | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| Real/Possible | om + present | present/future |
| Unreal/Hypothetical | om + past | skulle + inf. |
| Past unreal | om + hade + supine | skulle ha + supine |
Examples
Om det regnar, stannar jag hemma.
If it rains, I stay home.
Real condition (possible)
Om jag var rik, skulle jag resa.
If I were rich, I would travel.
Unreal condition (hypothetical)
Om du hade frågat, skulle jag ha hjälpt.
If you had asked, I would have helped.
Past unreal condition
Om jag kunde flyga, skulle jag resa till månen.
If I could fly, I would travel to the moon.
Impossible condition
3Expressing Wishes
Swedish has several ways to express wishes: - 'Om bara' (if only) + past tense for wishes about present - 'Jag önskar att' (I wish that) for wishes - 'Tänk om' (imagine if) for hypothetical wishes These constructions often use past tense forms even when talking about the present.
Examples
Om bara jag kunde simma!
If only I could swim!
Wish about ability
Jag önskar att jag hade mer tid.
I wish I had more time.
Wish about present situation
Tänk om vi vann lotteriet!
Imagine if we won the lottery!
Hypothetical wish
Om jag ändå vore där!
If only I were there!
'vore' = literary form of 'var'
4Modal Verbs in Conditional
Modal verbs combine with 'skulle' to express more nuanced conditional meanings: - skulle kunna = could (hypothetically) - skulle vilja = would like to - skulle behöva = would need to - skulle få = would be allowed to These combinations are very common in polite Swedish.
Skulle + Modal Combinations
| Swedish | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| skulle kunna | could (would be able to) | hypothetical ability |
| skulle vilja | would like/want | polite wish |
| skulle behöva | would need to | hypothetical necessity |
| skulle böra | should (hypothetically) | advice |
Examples
Vi skulle kunna träffas imorgon.
We could meet tomorrow.
Polite suggestion
Du skulle behöva vila mer.
You would need to rest more.
Gentle advice
Jag skulle vilja boka ett bord.
I would like to book a table.
Polite request
Det skulle kunna fungera.
It could work.
Possibility