Advanced Gerunds
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Swedish gerunds (participles) end in -ande or -ende and function as adjectives, nouns, or adverbs without changing for gender or number.
- Add -ande to Group 1, 2b, and 4 verbs: 'tala' → 'talande'.
- Add -ende to Group 2a and 3 verbs: 'följa' → 'följande'.
- Never use these for the continuous 'is doing'—use 'håller på att' instead.
Overview
presens particip. Unlike English, where the '-ing' form is used for everything from continuous tenses ('I am eating') to nouns ('Swimming is fun'), Swedish is much more selective. The presens particip is an indeclinable form ending in -ande or -ende.Att simma är roligt (using the infinitive) or use a specific verbal noun like simning.- 1Group 1 (a-verbs): Add
-ndeto the infinitive.
tala → talande.- 1Group 2 (consonant stems):
- If the stem ends in a stressed vowel (Group 3) or is a short verb: Add
-ende.
sy → syende, gå → gående.- If the stem ends in a consonant: Add
-ande(Group 2b) or-ende(Group 2a).
läsa → läsande, skriva → skrivande.- 1Group 4 (Strong verbs): Usually add
-ande.
sitta → sittande, dricka → drickande.o- directly to the participle, which is a very common way to create adjectives like ovetande (unknowing) or oemotståndlig (irresistible, though this is a derivative).ovanstående (the above-mentioned) or nedanstående (the below-mentioned) are staples of Swedish business legalese. In casual settings, you'll use them as adverbs: Han kom springande (He came running).Jag är ätande, which is grammatically incorrect for 'I am eating', you would simply say Jag äter or Jag håller på och äter. The participle is a tool for painting a picture, not for stating a simple action.Jag är arbetande does not mean 'I am working'; it means 'I am a working person' (as a status).presens particip is 'oböjligt' (inflexible). It is en sjungande man, ett sjungande barn, and många sjungande människor. The ending never changes to -a or -t.supinum (used for perfect tenses). Har skrivit (have written) vs skrivande (writing).presens particip with verbal nouns ending in -ing or -ning.Läsande (participle) describes the act or the person: Den läsande studenten (The reading student).Läsning (noun) describes the activity as a concept: Läsning är nyttigt (Reading is beneficial).-ning form is usually safer. If you are describing a noun in the middle of an action, use the -ande/-ende form.Meanings
The Swedish present participle (presens particip) functions similarly to the English '-ing' form when used as an adjective or a noun, describing a state or an ongoing action associated with a person or thing.
Adjectival Use
Describing a noun with an ongoing action.
“Ett skrikande barn (A crying child)”
“Den kommande veckan (The coming week)”
Adverbial Use
Describing how an action is performed.
“Han kom springande (He came running)”
“Hon svarade leende (She answered smiling)”
Verbal Nouns (The 'True' Gerund)
Using the verb as a noun to describe the activity itself.
“Tänkande är viktigt (Thinking is important)”
“Ett märkligt beteende (A strange behavior)”
Formation of Presens Particip
| Verb Group | Infinitive | Stem | Suffix | Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | tala | tala- | -nde | talande |
| Group 2a | följa | följ- | -ende | följande |
| Group 2b | läsa | läs- | -ande | läsande |
| Group 3 | sy | sy- | -ende | syende |
| Group 4 | skriva | skriv- | -ande | skrivande |
| Irregular | gå | gå- | -ende | gående |
| Irregular | se | se- | -ende | seende |
Reference Table
| Function | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | Participle + Noun | En spännande bok |
| Adverb | Verb + Participle | Han kom springande |
| Noun | Participle as Subject | De studerande läser |
| Negative | o- + Participle | Ovetande om felet |
| Formal Reference | Fixed Phrase | Ovanstående text |
| State | Bli + Participle | Han blev sittande |
Formalitätsspektrum
Följande personer äro inbjudna. (Invitations)
Följande personer är inbjudna. (Invitations)
De här personerna är bjudna. (Invitations)
De här folket ska med. (Invitations)
The Roles of the Swedish Participle
Adjective
- en levande varelse a living creature
Adverb
- svara leende answer smilingly
Noun
- ett boende an accommodation
English -ing vs Swedish Particip
Examples by Level
En leende pojke.
A smiling boy.
En sjungande kvinna.
A singing woman.
Vattnet är kokande.
The water is boiling.
Ett sovande barn.
A sleeping child.
Han kom springande till mig.
He came running to me.
Det var en spännande film.
It was an exciting movie.
Vi bor i ett växande område.
We live in a growing area.
Hon har ett krävande jobb.
She has a demanding job.
De satt skrattande vid bordet.
They sat laughing at the table.
Följande frågor måste besvaras.
The following questions must be answered.
Det är en givande erfarenhet.
It is a rewarding experience.
Han blev stående i regnet.
He remained standing in the rain.
Med tanke på rådande omständigheter...
Given the prevailing circumstances...
Ett avgörande ögonblick i historien.
A decisive moment in history.
Hon uttalade sig nedsättande om förslaget.
She spoke disparagingly about the proposal.
De studerande protesterade mot beslutet.
The students (the studying ones) protested the decision.
Detta är ett genomgripande problem.
This is a pervasive/fundamental problem.
Han agerade i god tro, ovetande om faran.
He acted in good faith, unaware of the danger.
En rörande berättelse om mod.
A touching story of courage.
Resultatet var slående likt originalet.
The result was strikingly similar to the original.
Det föreliggande verket belyser problematiken.
The present work elucidates the problem.
Hennes agerande var direkt utmanande.
Her behavior was directly provocative.
I avvaktan på kommande direktiv...
Pending forthcoming directives...
Ett vittomspännande nätverk av kontakter.
A wide-ranging network of contacts.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'skrivande' (writing) and 'skrivit' (written).
Active vs. Passive. 'En irriterande person' (annoying) vs 'En irriterad person' (annoyed).
Using 'simmande' when you mean 'simning'.
Häufige Fehler
Jag är läsande.
Jag läser.
En sjungande flicka och ett sjungandet barn.
En sjungande flicka och ett sjungande barn.
De är springande.
De springer.
Han kom springa.
Han kom springande.
Det är en mycket intresserad bok.
Det är en mycket intressant bok.
Sentence Patterns
Det var en ___ (participle) upplevelse.
Han kom ___ (participle) mot mig.
Med tanke på ___ (participle) omständigheter...
Hon blev ___ (participle) efter beskedet.
Real World Usage
Jag är en drivande person.
Kommer springande!
Följande analys visar...
Växande oro för ekonomin.
Gående hänvisas till andra sidan.
Väntande beställning.
The 'Bli' Trick
No -t for Neuter!
Formal References
Avoid Overuse
Smart Tips
Use 'håller på att' + infinitive instead of the participle.
Use participles like 'givande', 'stöttande', or 'krävande' to sound more sophisticated.
Always use -ende, never -ande.
Use 'ovanstående' (the above) or 'nedanstående' (the below).
Aussprache
The 'd' in -ande
The 'd' is often very soft or almost silent in casual speech, making it sound like '-ane'.
Stress
The stress remains on the verb stem, never on the -ande/-ende suffix.
Falling tone
En spännande bok ↘
Standard declarative statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Group 1 stays with 'A' (talande), Group 2a/3 takes 'E' (seende/följande). Think: 'A' for Action, 'E' for Enduring state.
Visual Association
Imagine a runner frozen in a photograph. The photograph is the participle—it describes the state of the runner (springande) but doesn't show the time passing like a video (the verb).
Rhyme
When the verb ends in A, -nde is the way. For the rest, -ende or -ande is the test!
Story
A 'studerande' (student) was 'gående' (walking) while 'ätande' (eating) an apple. He was 'ovetande' (unaware) that a 'skällande' (barking) dog was 'följande' (following) him.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around your room and describe three objects using a present participle (e.g., 'en lysande lampa').
Kulturelle Hinweise
Using participles is a sign of high education and is expected in university essays to increase 'information density'.
Law texts use 'målsägande' (plaintiff) and 'svarande' (defendant), which are participles turned into nouns.
Using 'leende' (smiling) or 'hälsande' (greeting) as adverbs is common in literature to set a pleasant tone.
Derived from Old Norse present participles ending in -andi.
Conversation Starters
Vad är det mest spännande du har gjort i år?
Kan du beskriva en person som är betydelsefull för dig med tre particip?
Vilka är de mest krävande delarna av ditt jobb?
Om du ser någon komma springande på gatan, vad tänker du?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Hon är en mycket ___ person.
Barnet kom ___ mot sin mamma.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jag är läsande en bok just nu.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
En man som ler.
Identify the participle form.
A: Hur var filmen? B: Den var faktiskt väldigt ___.
Participles change ending for plural nouns.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesHon är en mycket ___ person.
Barnet kom ___ mot sin mamma.
Find and fix the mistake:
Jag är läsande en bok just nu.
1. Bo, 2. Se, 3. Gå
En man som ler.
Identify the participle form.
A: Hur var filmen? B: Den var faktiskt väldigt ___.
Participles change ending for plural nouns.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, Swedish uses the simple present tense (`Jag gör`) or the construction `håller på att` for that.
It depends on the verb group. Group 1 and 4 usually take `-ande`, while Group 2a and 3 take `-ende`.
They are much more common in formal writing, though some (like `spännande` or `springande`) are common in speech.
Yes, for example `en studerande` (a student) or `ett boende` (an accommodation).
Add the prefix `o-` to the start, e.g., `ovetande` (unknowing).
Technically it's an adjective, but it functions exactly like a present participle and comes from the same linguistic root.
Because they are a special verb form that acts as an adjective but does not follow standard adjective declension rules.
Yes, in formal writing: `Gående i parken, såg han...` (Walking in the park, he saw...).
In Other Languages
-ing form
Swedish cannot say 'I am working' using the participle.
Partizip I (-end)
German participles decline like adjectives, Swedish ones do not.
Gerundio (-ando/-iendo)
Spanish uses it for 'is doing', Swedish does not.
Participe présent (-ant)
French 'gérondif' requires 'en', Swedish uses the participle alone.
~te iru form
Japanese ~te iru is a core tense; Swedish -ande is a stylistic choice.
Ism al-Fa'il (Active Participle)
Arabic participles can sometimes express the present tense, unlike Swedish.
Related Grammar Rules
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