B1 Verb Forms 6 min read Medio

Present Participle

It's a verb-turned-adjective that describes an ongoing action or state without changing for gender or number.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The Swedish present participle turns verbs into adjectives or adverbs by adding -ande or -ende to the stem.

  • Add -ande to most verbs, especially those ending in -a (tala → talande).
  • Add -ende to verbs not ending in -a, like short verbs (bo → boende).
  • Unlike English, never use it to form continuous tenses like 'I am eating'.
Verb Stem + 🛠️ (-ande / -ende) = 🎭 Adjective/Adverb

Overview

## Overview of the Present Participle
In Swedish, the presens particip is a versatile tool that bridges the gap between verbs and adjectives. While it looks similar to the English '-ing' form, its job description is quite different. In English, you use '-ing' to say 'I am eating' (the continuous present).
In Swedish, you never do this. Instead, the present participle is used to describe *how* something is or *how* someone is doing something.
Think of it as a 'frozen' verb that acts like an adjective. For example, if you see a 'barking dog', the word 'barking' describes the dog. In Swedish, that's en skällande hund.
It describes an active, ongoing state. One of the best things about the Swedish present participle is that it is indeclinable. Unlike regular adjectives that change based on whether the noun is en, ett, or plural, the present participle stays exactly the same.
En leende pojke (a smiling boy), ett leende barn (a smiling child), and leende människor (smiling people) all use the same form. This makes it a very stable and reliable part of the language once you learn the formation rules.
## How to Form It
Forming the present participle is generally straightforward, but it depends on the verb group.
  1. 1Group 1 & 2 (Verbs ending in -a): Most Swedish verbs fall here. You take the infinitive and add -nde.
  • tala (to speak) → talande (speaking)
  • arbeta (to work) → arbetande (working)
  • leka (to play) → lekande (playing)
  1. 1Group 3 & 4 (Short verbs and verbs not ending in -a): For verbs that end in a vowel other than -a, or for many strong verbs, we use the suffix -ende.
  • bo (to live) → boende (living/resident)
  • se (to see) → seende (seeing)
  • gå (to go/walk) → gående (walking)
  • le (to smile) → leende (smiling)
Special Cases:
Some verbs might have slight stem changes, but they are rare. The most important thing to remember is the -ande vs -ende distinction. If the verb ends in -a, go with -ande.
If it ends in any other vowel, go with -ende. If you are dealing with a particle verb (like tycka om), the participle is formed as one word: omtyckt (though this is a past participle example, for present it would be omtyckande, though less common). Usually, the particle stays separate in the present participle: komma springande (come running).
## When to Use It
You will encounter the present participle in several real-world scenarios.
1. As an Adjective: This is the most common use. It describes a noun. You'll see this in literature, news, and everyday descriptions. En givande kurs (a rewarding course) or en rinnande kran (a running tap).
2. With Verbs of Motion: This is a very 'Swedish' way to describe how someone arrives or moves. Instead of saying 'He ran here,' you might say Han kom springande (He came running). It adds a sense of simultaneous action.
3. In Professional Writing: Swedish loves using participles to sound formal and precise. Words like föregående (previous), nuvarande (current), and kommande (coming/future) are staples of business emails and job interviews.
4. Social Media & Texting: While less common in very casual speech (where people prefer relative clauses like 'hunden som skäller'), you'll still see it in captions: En strålande dag! (A radiant day!).
## Common Mistakes
The biggest trap for English speakers is the Continuous Tense Trap.
  • Wrong: Jag är ätande. (I am eating.)
  • Correct: Jag äter. (I eat / I am eating.)
In Swedish, the simple present tense covers both 'I eat' and 'I am eating'.
Another mistake is trying to decline the participle.
  • Wrong: De leende-na barnen.
  • Correct: De leende barnen.
Remember, it is indeclinable! It doesn't matter if the noun is plural or definite; the participle stays the same.
Finally, watch out for the -ande vs -ende choice.
  • Wrong: Gåande
  • Correct: Gående
Because gå does not end in -a, it must take -ende.
## Present vs. Past Participle
It is easy to confuse the Present Participle (-ande/-ende) with the Past Participle (-d/-t/-en).
The Present Participle is active. It describes the one *doing* the action.
  • En skrämmande film = A scaring film (The film is scaring you).
The Past Participle is passive. It describes the one *receiving* the action or the result.
  • En skrämd pojke = A scared boy (The boy has been scared by something).
Think of it this way: The present participle is the 'actor', and the past participle is the 'result'. Another key difference is that the past participle *does* decline (skrämd, skrämt, skrämda), while the present participle is always the same.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: At A1, you don't need to use this rule much. Just remember that some words ending in -ande are like adjectives. For example, 'spännande' means 'exciting'. You use it to describe things. Don't use it to say 'I am working'—just say 'Jag arbetar'.
A2: In A2, you start seeing more of these words. They are verbs that act like adjectives. You might see 'en sjungande man' (a singing man).
Notice that the ending -ande or -ende doesn't change, even if you talk about many people. It's an easy way to describe an action that is happening right now as a description.
B1: At the B1 level, you should start producing the present participle. Use it as an adverb with verbs of motion, like 'Han kom springande'. This makes your Swedish sound more natural.
Also, learn the difference between -ande (for -a verbs) and -ende (for other verbs). It's very common in formal texts and news, so recognizing it will help your reading comprehension significantly.
B2: B2 learners should master the use of substantivized participles, such as 'de studerande' (the students). You should also be comfortable using participles as prepositions in formal writing (e.g., 'angående', 'beträffande'). Understand that the present participle implies an active voice and an imperfective aspect, meaning the action is ongoing or characteristic of the subject.
C1: At C1, you use the present participle to refine your style, especially in academic or journalistic writing. It allows for more concise sentence structures by replacing relative clauses. For instance, 'en lagstiftning som begränsar...' can become 'en begränsande lagstiftning'.
You should also be aware of archaic or literary forms and how participles can function as part of complex compound words.
C2: Near-native mastery involves using the present participle to convey subtle pragmatic nuances. This includes understanding its role in fixed idiomatic expressions and its historical evolution from the Old Norse active participle. You can manipulate the participle to shift focus or tone, and you recognize when a participle has fully transitioned into a noun or a different part of speech with a specialized meaning, distinct from its parent verb.

Meanings

A non-finite verb form used primarily as an adjective to describe a noun performing an action, or as an adverb to describe how an action is performed.

1

Adjectival Use

Describes a noun by indicating an ongoing action or a characteristic state.

“Ett leende ansikte”

“Den springande pojken”

2

Adverbial Use

Describes the manner in which the main verb's action is carried out.

“Han kom springande”

“Hon satt gråtande på sängen”

3

Substantivized Use

The participle acts as a noun, often referring to people performing an action.

“De studerande”

“De sökande”

4

Fixed Prepositions/Conjunctions

Certain participles have evolved into independent prepositions or conjunctions.

“Angående din fråga”

“Beträffande mötet”

Present Participle Formation by Verb Group

Verb Group Infinitive Stem Participle Ending Result
Group 1 tala (speak) tala- -nde talande
Group 2 läsa (read) läsa- -nde läsande
Group 3 bo (live) bo- -ende boende
Group 4 (Strong) skriva (write) skriva- -nde skrivande
Group 4 (Short) se (see) se- -ende seende
Irregular gå (go) gå- -ende gående
Irregular le (smile) le- -ende leende
Irregular stå (stand) stå- -ende stående

Reference Table

Reference table for Present Participle
Function Swedish Example English Translation
As Adjective (En) En skällande hund A barking dog
As Adjective (Ett) Ett skällande barn A barking child
As Adjective (Plural) Skällande hundar Barking dogs
As Adverb (Motion) Han kom springande He came running
As Noun De studerande The students
Fixed Expression Gående bord Buffet (lit. walking table)
Prepositional Angående rapporten Regarding the report
Negative (with 'o-') Ovetande Unknowing / Unaware

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
Angående morgondagens sammanträde.

Angående morgondagens sammanträde. (Business/Scheduling)

Neutral
Gällande mötet imorgon.

Gällande mötet imorgon. (Business/Scheduling)

Informal
Om mötet imorgon.

Om mötet imorgon. (Business/Scheduling)

Jerga
Ang. mötet imorrn.

Ang. mötet imorrn. (Business/Scheduling)

Functions of the Present Participle

Presens Particip

Adjective

  • en spännande bok an exciting book

Adverb

  • komma springande come running

Noun

  • de sökande the applicants

Present vs. Past Participle

Present (Active)
skrämmande scaring (it scares)
Past (Passive)
skrämd scared (it is scared)

Choosing the Ending

1

Does the verb end in -a?

YES
Add -nde (talande)
NO
Go to next step
2

Does it end in another vowel?

YES
Add -ende (boende)
NO
Check for irregulars

Common Participle Adjectives

😊

Feelings

  • • spännande
  • • givande
  • • sårande
  • • lugnande
💼

Business

  • • angående
  • • nuvarande
  • • kommande
  • • omfattande
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Examples by Level

1

Filmen är spännande.

The movie is exciting.

2

En talande fågel.

A talking bird.

3

Hon har ett leende ansikte.

She has a smiling face.

4

Det är en givande dag.

It is a rewarding day.

1

Hunden kom springande mot mig.

The dog came running towards me.

2

De boende i huset är trevliga.

The residents (living) in the house are nice.

3

Jag hörde barnen skrattande i trädgården.

I heard the children laughing in the garden.

4

Det finns inga väntande gäster.

There are no waiting guests.

1

Han blev stående mitt i gatan.

He remained standing in the middle of the street.

2

Vi behöver en mer omfattande undersökning.

We need a more comprehensive (embracing) investigation.

3

Angående din ansökan har vi fattat ett beslut.

Regarding your application, we have made a decision.

4

Hon svarade med en suckande röst.

She answered with a sighing voice.

1

De studerande förväntas delta i seminariet.

The students are expected to participate in the seminar.

2

Det är en ständigt återkommande fråga.

It is a constantly recurring question.

3

Trots det rådande läget fortsätter vi.

Despite the prevailing situation, we continue.

4

Han har en enastående förmåga att lyssna.

He has an outstanding (standing alone) ability to listen.

1

Denna lag är tvingande för alla medborgare.

This law is mandatory (forcing) for all citizens.

2

Hennes agerande var djupt sårande.

Her actions were deeply hurtful (wounding).

3

En förutsättningslös och givande dialog.

An unconditional and rewarding dialogue.

4

Det är en avgörande faktor för framgång.

It is a decisive (deciding) factor for success.

1

Detta är en genomgripande förändring av systemet.

This is a radical (thorough-gripping) change of the system.

2

Han uttryckte sig i nedsättande ordalag.

He expressed himself in derogatory (lowering) terms.

3

Ett vittomspännande nätverk av kontakter.

A wide-ranging (wide-around-spanning) network of contacts.

4

Det är en hårresande historia.

It is a hair-raising story.

Easily Confused

Present Participle vs Present Participle vs. Supine

Learners confuse the -ande ending with the -at ending used for perfect tenses.

Present Participle vs Present Participle vs. Gerund (-ing)

English speakers try to use -ande for continuous actions.

Present Participle vs Spelling: -ande vs. -ende

Choosing the wrong vowel for the suffix.

Errores comunes

✗

Jag är arbetande.

✓

Jag arbetar.

Don't use the participle for the continuous present.
✗

En spännand bok.

✓

En spännande bok.

The ending is -ande, not just -and.
✗

Det är en intressant film.

✓

Det är en spännande film.

While 'intressant' is okay, learners often miss the chance to use 'spännande'.
✗

Jag ser en sjunga fågel.

✓

Jag ser en sjungande fågel.

Forgetting to add the participle ending when describing a noun.
✗

De leendena barnen.

✓

De leende barnen.

The present participle is indeclinable. Do not add plural endings.
✗

Han kom springande-t.

✓

Han kom springande.

Do not add 't' for adverbial use; it stays -ande.
✗

Ett boande barn.

✓

Ett boende barn.

Short verbs like 'bo' take -ende, not -ande.
✗

En skrämd film.

✓

En skrämmande film.

Using the past participle (passive) instead of the present participle (active).
✗

Jag såg honom gående.

✓

Jag såg honom gå.

In Swedish, we usually use the infinitive after verbs of perception, not the participle.
✗

Angånde mötet...

✓

Angående mötet...

Spelling error in common formal participles.
✗

En mycket tvingad lag.

✓

En tvingande lag.

Using the past participle when the law itself is doing the 'forcing'.

Sentence Patterns

En ___ (verb-ande) person kom ___ (verb-ande).

Jag tycker att det är ___ (verb-ande).

___ (Participle) din fråga, kan jag säga att...

Det är en ___ (verb-ande) faktor.

Real World Usage

Job Interviews very common

Jag är en drivande person som gillar utmaningar.

News Headlines constant

Stigande priser på bensin upprör konsumenter.

Texting occasional

Det låter spännande!

Official Letters constant

Angående din ansökan...

Travel/Directions common

Gå förbi den väntande kön.

Cooking/Recipes occasional

Tillsätt sjudande vatten.

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🎯

The 'Som' Shortcut

If you're unsure how to form a participle, use 'som' + the verb. 'En sjungande fågel' = 'En fågel som sjunger'. This is often more natural in spoken Swedish!
⚠️

No Continuous Tense!

Never say 'Jag är läsande' for 'I am reading'. Just say 'Jag läser'.
💡

Indeclinable Power

Remember that -ande/-ende never changes. It's one of the few things in Swedish grammar that doesn't care about en/ett/plural!
💬

Formal Tone

Using present participles like 'föregående' (previous) instead of 'förra' will instantly make your writing sound more professional.

Smart Tips

Use the participle as an adverb. It makes your Swedish sound much more advanced.

Han satt och grät. → Han satt gråtande.

Start your sentences with 'Angående...' or 'Gällande...' to sound professional.

Jag skriver om mötet. → Angående mötet...

Always use the -ende ending. These verbs never take -ande.

Boande → Boende

Stop and ask: Is this a description or an action? If it's an action, just use the normal present tense.

Jag är springande. → Jag springer.

Pronunciación

/²andə/

The 'e' in -ande

The final 'e' in -ande and -ende is often very short or almost silent in fast speech.

TAl-ande, BO-ende

Stress

The stress remains on the verb stem, not on the participle ending.

Compound Stress

En STÅ-ende o-VA-tion

The participle and noun maintain their own stress patterns but flow together.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'A' for -a verbs (talA -> talAnde), and 'E' for the rest (bo -> boEnde).

Visual Association

Imagine a 'walking table' (gående bord) for a buffet. The table isn't actually walking, but the people are. This helps you remember that the participle describes the action associated with the noun.

Rhyme

Ends in A? -ande is the way. Ends in E or O? -ende is how you go!

Story

A 'studerande' (student) was 'boende' (living) in Stockholm. One 'strålande' (radiant) day, they saw a 'springande' (running) thief and called the police 'angående' (regarding) the crime.

Word Web

spännandeleendegåendeboendestuderandeangåendenuvarande

Desafío

Look around you and describe three things using a present participle (e.g., a 'lysande' lamp, a 'sittande' person, a 'tickande' clock).

Notas culturales

Official documents (from Skatteverket or Försäkringskassan) heavily use present participles like 'sökande' (applicant) and 'mottagande' (recipient) to remain objective.

Authors like Astrid Lindgren use present participles to create vivid, rhythmic descriptions of nature and movement.

In digital contexts, 'spännande' is often abbreviated to 'spännande' or used as a one-word reaction to news, similar to 'cool' or 'interesting'.

Derived from the Proto-Germanic suffix *-andz, which is cognate with the Latin -ans/-antis and English -ing (via -ende).

Conversation Starters

“

Vad är det mest spännande du har gjort i år?

“

Har du sett någon springande person idag?

“

Vad tycker du om det rådande vädret?

“

Kan du beskriva en givande hobby du har?

Journal Prompts

Beskriv en morgon i staden. Använd ord som 'springande', 'cyklande' och 'stressande'.
Skriv ett formellt brev angående ett problem i din lägenhet.
Reflektera över en 'givande' upplevelse i ditt liv.
Beskriv en karaktär i en bok som har ett 'leende' men 'skrämmande' ansikte.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct present participle of 'tala'.

Han är en mycket ___ person.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: talande
We need the present participle to describe the person as 'speaking/talkative'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct? Opción múltiple

How do you say 'He came running'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han kom springande.
Verbs of motion use the present participle to describe the manner of movement.
Correct the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

De leendena barnen leker.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: De leende barnen leker.
The present participle is indeclinable and does not take plural endings.
Match the verb to its present participle. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-boende, 2-gående, 3-talande
Short verbs and verbs not ending in -a take -ende.
Translate: 'A rewarding job'. Sentence Building

___ (Giva) jobb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ett givande jobb
'Jobb' is an 'ett' word, but the participle 'givande' remains the same regardless.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

The present participle is used to form the continuous present tense (e.g., 'I am eating').

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Swedish uses the simple present for continuous actions.
Which of these is a present participle? Grammar Sorting

Identify the participle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: skrivande
The -ande ending identifies the present participle.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Hur var filmen? B: Den var väldigt ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: spännande
'Spännande' is the standard adjective form for 'exciting'.

Score: /8

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Fill in the correct present participle of 'tala'.

Han är en mycket ___ person.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: talande
We need the present participle to describe the person as 'speaking/talkative'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct? Opción múltiple

How do you say 'He came running'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han kom springande.
Verbs of motion use the present participle to describe the manner of movement.
Correct the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

De leendena barnen leker.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: De leende barnen leker.
The present participle is indeclinable and does not take plural endings.
Match the verb to its present participle. Match Pairs

1. Bo, 2. Gå, 3. Tala

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-boende, 2-gående, 3-talande
Short verbs and verbs not ending in -a take -ende.
Translate: 'A rewarding job'. Sentence Building

___ (Giva) jobb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ett givande jobb
'Jobb' is an 'ett' word, but the participle 'givande' remains the same regardless.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

The present participle is used to form the continuous present tense (e.g., 'I am eating').

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Swedish uses the simple present for continuous actions.
Which of these is a present participle? Grammar Sorting

Identify the participle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: skrivande
The -ande ending identifies the present participle.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Hur var filmen? B: Den var väldigt ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: spännande
'Spännande' is the standard adjective form for 'exciting'.

Score: /8

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

Yes, but only in spelling based on the verb. Verbs ending in `-a` take `-ande`, while others (mostly short verbs) take `-ende`. They function identically.

Yes! For example, `en studerande` (a student) or `de sökande` (the applicants). This is very common in formal Swedish.

Because Swedish doesn't use the 'to be + participle' structure for ongoing actions. You just say `Jag sjunger`.

No, it is completely indeclinable. It stays the same for `en`, `ett`, plural, and definite forms.

`Spännande` means 'exciting' (active), while `spänd` means 'tense' or 'stretched' (passive/result).

Very few. Most follow the `-ande/-ende` rule strictly. Even irregular verbs like `gå` (gående) and `se` (seende) follow the pattern.

In spoken Swedish, it's often more natural to use a relative clause: `mannen som springer` instead of `den springande mannen`.

It's technically a present participle of `angå`, but it functions as a preposition meaning 'regarding'.

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In Other Languages

English moderate

-ing form

Swedish present participle is never used for continuous verb tenses.

German high

Partizip I (-end)

German participles can decline when used as attributive adjectives, while Swedish ones are indeclinable.

Spanish partial

Gerundio (-ando/-iendo)

Spanish uses it for 'to be + -ing', Swedish does not.

French moderate

Participe présent (-ant)

French participles can sometimes function as 'gerunds' with 'en', which Swedish lacks.

Japanese low

~te iru form

Japanese ~te iru is a core verb conjugation; Swedish -ande is an adjectival derivative.

Chinese low

着 (zhe)

Chinese 'zhe' is an aspect marker; Swedish -ande is a morphological suffix.

Arabic moderate

Ism al-Fa'il (Active Participle)

Arabic participles change for gender and number, unlike the Swedish indeclinable form.

Next
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