When learning Swedish, you'll encounter prepositions like "efter" early on. "Efter" directly translates to "after" in English. It's used in similar ways, for example, to indicate time sequencing, like "efter jobbet" (after work), or spatial relationships, such as someone being "efter dig" (after you). Mastering this common word is key for forming basic sentences and understanding everyday Swedish conversations. Practice using it in simple phrases to solidify your understanding.
When talking about time, efter means after. For example, 'efter skolan' means 'after school'.
It can also mean 'later than' or 'past'. Like 'klockan är tjugo över tre' which means 'the clock is twenty past three' or 'it is 3:20'.
Efter can also be used to mean 'for' or 'in search of', such as 'Letar du efter mig?' which means 'Are you looking for me?'.
Finally, it can express a sequence or order, like 'den ena efter den andra', meaning 'one after the other'.
§ 'Efter' vs. 'Sedan'
Many English speakers confuse 'efter' with 'sedan' because both can sometimes translate to 'after' in certain contexts. However, their usage is distinct.
- DEFINITION
- 'Efter' typically refers to a sequence of events or spatial position: one thing happens or is located after another. It answers 'when' or 'where' in a sequential sense.
Jag äter lunch efter mötet. (I eat lunch after the meeting.)
Han kom hem efter mig. (He came home after me.)
- DEFINITION
- 'Sedan' (or 'sen') often implies a duration or a starting point in time, meaning 'since' or 'from that point on'. It answers 'how long' or 'when did it start and continue'.
Jag har bott här sedan 2010. (I have lived here since 2010.)
Han har inte ätit sedan igår. (He hasn't eaten since yesterday.)
§ Using 'efter' with verbs incorrectly
A common error is directly translating English phrasal verbs that use 'after'. Swedish often uses different prepositions or verb constructions.
- COMMON MISTAKE
- Saying "look after" as "titta efter". While 'titta efter' exists, it means 'to look for', not 'to take care of'.
- Incorrect:
Jag tittar efter min bror.(Meaning: I look for my brother, not I take care of my brother.) - Correct: Jag tar hand om min bror. (I take care of my brother.)
- COMMON MISTAKE
- Translating "ask after" (enquire about someone's health) directly.
- Incorrect:
Han frågade efter dig.(Meaning: He asked for you, as in, he wanted to speak to you.) - Correct: Han frågade hur du mår. (He asked how you are feeling.)
§ 'Efter' in idiomatic expressions
Some expressions use 'efter' in ways that might not be immediately obvious from a direct translation.
- EXAMPLE
- 'Längta efter' (to long for / yearn for)
Jag längtar efter sommaren. (I long for summer.)
- EXAMPLE
- 'Fråga efter' (to ask for/about, as in requesting someone or something)
De frågade efter din bok. (They asked for your book.)
Le savais-tu ?
The English word 'after' shares a common Germanic root with 'efter'.
Exemples par niveau
Efter att ha granskat alla bevis drog åklagaren slutsatsen att den åtalade var skyldig till brottet.
After reviewing all the evidence, the prosecutor concluded that the defendant was guilty of the crime.
"efter att ha" + past participle is a common construction meaning "after having done something".
Landet har upplevt en period av ekonomisk tillväxt efter flera år av stagnation och arbetslöshet.
The country has experienced a period of economic growth after several years of stagnation and unemployment.
Here, 'efter' introduces a time period following another.
Det är viktigt att vi drar lärdom av historien för att inte upprepa samma misstag efter somliga händelser.
It is important that we learn from history so as not to repeat the same mistakes after certain events.
In this context, 'efter somliga händelser' means 'after some events'.
Efter noggrant övervägande bestämde styrelsen sig för att godkänna den nya investeringsplanen.
After careful consideration, the board decided to approve the new investment plan.
"Efter noggrant övervägande" is a fixed expression meaning "after careful consideration".
Förhandlingarna bröt samman kort efter att de inleddes, vilket ledde till ökad spänning mellan parterna.
The negotiations broke down shortly after they began, leading to increased tension between the parties.
"kort efter att" means "shortly after".
Eftersom väderförhållandena var extremt dåliga, tvingades flygbolaget att ställa in alla avgångar.
Because the weather conditions were extremely bad, the airline was forced to cancel all departures.
'Eftersom' functions as 'because' or 'since', indicating a reason.
Han kände en djup ånger efter att ha insett konsekvenserna av sina handlingar.
He felt a deep regret after realizing the consequences of his actions.
Similar to the first example, 'efter att ha' signifies 'after having done something'.
Efter åratal av forskning har teamet äntligen lyckats utveckla ett effektivt vaccin mot sjukdomen.
After years of research, the team has finally succeeded in developing an effective vaccine against the disease.
'Efter åratal av' means 'after years of'.
Origine du mot
Old Norse
Sens originel : following, behind
GermanicContexte culturel
In Swedish culture, being 'efter' something can imply being late, but it's also used in many neutral contexts like 'efter jobbet' (after work). It's a very common and versatile preposition that you'll hear all the time.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Time/Sequence
- efter jobbet - after work
- efter skolan - after school
- efter middagen - after dinner
Following someone/something (physical movement)
- springa efter - run after
- komma efter - come after (to follow)
- gå efter - go after (to follow)
Looking for/Searching for
- leta efter - look for
- fråga efter - ask for
- söka efter - search for
According to/In accordance with
- efter min åsikt - in my opinion (literally 'after my opinion')
- efter reglerna - according to the rules
- efter behov - according to need
Later on/Afterwards
- strax efter - shortly after
- långt efter - long after
- direkt efter - directly after
Amorces de conversation
"Vad gör du efter jobbet idag? - What are you doing after work today?"
"Vad brukar du äta efter träningen? - What do you usually eat after training?"
"Vem kommer efter dig i kön? - Who is after you in the queue?"
"Har du letat efter din nyckel? - Have you looked for your key?"
"Vad händer efter det? - What happens after that?"
Sujets d'écriture
Skriv om din perfekta dag, från morgon till kväll, och använd 'efter' för att beskriva vad du gör i följd. - Write about your perfect day, from morning to evening, and use 'efter' to describe what you do in sequence.
Beskriv en situation där du letade efter något viktigt. Hur kände du dig före, under och efter sökandet? - Describe a situation where you were looking for something important. How did you feel before, during, and after the search?
Tänk på en resa du har gjort. Vad gjorde du direkt efter att du kom fram? - Think about a trip you have taken. What did you do directly after you arrived?
Fundera över en person du ser upp till. Vilka är deras vanor efter jobbet eller skolan? - Reflect on a person you look up to. What are their habits after work or school?
Vad är det första du vill göra efter att du har lärt dig svenska flytande? - What is the first thing you want to do after you have learned Swedish fluently?
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