LW #40: Strong verbs - u & y (2)
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Last time we learned about two more groups within the larger group of strong verbs. A reminder: strong verbs have some irregularities compared to the first three verb groups, but their subgroups do follow their own rules, and knowing these rules helps us use those verbs in an easier way.
Here are the two subgroups we studied last time and their representatives:
1) verbs whose verb stem contains a u
att sjunga Sjung! sjunger sjöng har sjungit to sing
att njuta Njut! njuter njöt har njutit to enjoy
2) verbs whose verb stem contains a y
att flyga Flyg! flyger flög har flugit to fly
att flyta Flyt! flyter flöt har flutit to float
3) verbs whose verb stem contains a y followed by an s
att frysa Frys! fryser frös / fryste har fryst to freeze
att lysa Lys! lyser lös / lyste har lyst to shine
We can see that these verbs follow the same common pattern as the first three verb groups when it comes to the imperativ and presens. However, they follow specific rules when it comes to preteritum and perfekt.
In the preteritum, both u and y change to ö, and in the perfekt, the u remains and the suffix -it is added to the verb stem (att frysa, the verb stem is frys). The exception is the verb att skjuta (to shoot) where the preteritum is sköt, not skjöt.
The exception when it comes to the perfekt is verbs whose y is followed by s, where the perfekt is formed by simply adding the suffix -t to the verb stem. That group can also have a much simpler preteritum, for example: att lysa → lyste. Both lös and lyste can be used.
Now we are going to do some exercises in sentences. Click here to see all verbs from the previous workshop.
Exercises
____________ i kör om du vill förbättra din sång! (att sjunga, imperativ)
Sing in a choir if you want to improve your singing!
Vackra ord ____________ inte längre. (att duga, presens)
Beautiful words are no longer enough.
Hon ____________ för mig hela tiden. (att ljuga, preteritum)
She lied to me the whole time.
Bebisen ____________ på tummen hela morgonen. (att suga, perfekt)
The baby has been sucking his thumb all morning.
____________ av livet! (att njuta, imperativ)
Enjoy life!
De ____________ först och ställer sedan frågor. (att skjuta, presens)
They shoot first and ask questions later.
Fåglarna ____________ till Afrika förra hösten. (att flyga, preteritum)
The birds flew to Africa last fall.
Jag ____________ i poolen hela förmiddagen. (att flyta, perfekt)
I've been floating in the pool all morning.
____________ inte ut, du måste göra din hemläxa först! (att smyga, imperativ)
Don't sneak out, you have to do your homework first!
Han ____________ och vänder sig bort. (att fnysa, presens)
He snorts and turns away.
Stjärnorna ____________ (lyste) hela natten. (att lysa, preteritum)
The stars were shining all night.
Han ____________, jag tror att han kanske är förkyld. (att nysa, perfekt)
He's been sneezing, I think he might have a cold.
Correct answers
Sjung i kör om du vill förbättra din sång! (att sjunga, imperativ)
Sing in a choir if you want to improve your singing!
Vackra ord duger inte längre. (att duga, presens)
Beautiful words are no longer enough.
Hon ljög för mig hela tiden. (att ljuga, preteritum)
She lied to me the whole time.
Bebisen har sugit på tummen hela morgonen. (att suga, perfekt)
The baby has been sucking his thumb all morning.
Njut av livet! (att njuta, imperativ)
Enjoy life!
De skjuter först och ställer sedan frågor. (att skjuta, presens)
They shoot first and ask questions later.
Fåglarna flög till Afrika förra hösten. (att flyga, preteritum)
The birds flew to Africa last fall.
Jag har flutit i poolen hela förmiddagen. (att flyta, perfekt)
I've been floating in the pool all morning.
Smyg inte ut, du måste göra din hemläxa först! (att smyga, imperativ)
Don't sneak out, you have to do your homework first!
Han fnyser och vänder sig bort. (att fnysa, presens)
He snorts and turns away.
Stjärnorna lös (lyste) hela natten. (att lysa, preteritum)
The stars were shining all night.
Han har nyst, jag tror att han kanske är förkyld. (att nysa, perfekt)
He's been sneezing, I think he might have a cold.
