vara

§ Mixing up 'vara' and 'ha'

A very common mistake for English speakers learning Swedish is confusing 'vara' (to be) with 'ha' (to have). In English, we use 'to be' in many expressions where Swedish uses 'ha'. This can be tricky, so let's look at some examples.

This one is straightforward, just like in English. But watch out for these:

§ Using 'vara' with age

In English, we say "I am 30 years old." In Swedish, you would usually say "Jag är 30 år." The word 'gammal' (old) is often omitted, especially in casual conversation. If you include it, it's not wrong, but it can sound a bit formal or emphatic.

§ Incorrect verb conjugation

Like all verbs in Swedish, 'vara' conjugates. Even at an A1 level, you need to be consistent with your conjugations. The present tense 'är' is the most common form you'll use, but it's important to know the other forms too.

Infinitive

vara

Present tense

är

Past tense

var

Supine

varit

Make sure you use the correct form depending on the tense of your sentence.

§ Forgetting 'det' with impersonal statements

In Swedish, when you make impersonal statements, especially about weather or general existence, you often need to use 'det är' (it is/there is). This is similar to English, but sometimes learners forget to include 'det'.

Not just 'Är kallt idag'. The 'det' is important as the grammatical subject.

§ Using 'vara' instead of verbs of location

While 'vara' means 'to be', it's not always used for physical location in the same way English 'to be' is. Often, Swedish uses specific verbs like 'ligga' (to lie), 'stå' (to stand), or 'sitta' (to sit) to describe where something is, especially for inanimate objects or when the position is fixed.

Using 'Boken är på bordet' is generally understood but might sound less natural. However, for people or abstract locations, 'vara' is perfectly fine.