Since and For in Swedish
Mastering prepositions that convey time is essential for learners striving to achieve fluency in any language. In Swedish, the words “sedan” (since) and “i” or “under” (for) are commonly used to express the duration and starting
points of actions or events. Despite their frequent use, learners often confuse them due to their overlapping functions and the subtle differences in meaning. To convey time properly in Swedish, it is important to know when to use “sedan” to indicate the starting point of an action (since) and when to use “i” or “under” to express the length of time an action occurs (for).
Since and For in Swedish
“Sedan” (Since)
In Swedish, “sedan” is used to express the starting point of an action or event, just like the word “since” in English. It refers to the time at which an activity began and is typically used with the present perfect tense, indicating an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present.
“I” and “Under” (For)
On the other hand, “i” and “under” are used to express the duration or length of time an activity has lasted. In English, these correspond to the preposition “for.” The preposition “i” is generally more common when talking about specific time periods like days, months, or years, while “under” can be used to refer to a general time span.
Comparing “Since” (Sedan) and “For” (I/Under) in Swedish
| English Example | Swedish Translation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I have lived here since 2010. | Jag har bott här sedan 2010. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (2010). |
| I studied Swedish for two years. | Jag studerade svenska i två år. | “I” is used to express the duration (two years). |
| He has worked here since last summer. | Han har arbetat här sedan förra sommaren. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (last summer). |
| We waited for 30 minutes. | Vi väntade i 30 minuter. | “I” shows the duration (30 minutes). |
| They have known each other since childhood. | De har känt varandra sedan barndomen. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (childhood). |
| She read the book for a week. | Hon läste boken i en vecka. | “I” indicates the duration (one week). |
| I have been learning Swedish since January. | Jag har lärt mig svenska sedan januari. | “Sedan” refers to the starting point (January). |
| He stayed in Sweden for a month. | Han stannade i Sverige i en månad. | “I” shows the duration (one month). |
| They have been together since 2015. | De har varit tillsammans sedan 2015. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (2015). |
| I have been sick for three days. | Jag har varit sjuk i tre dagar. | “I” shows the duration (three days). |
| We haven’t seen each other since the trip. | Vi har inte sett varandra sedan resan. | “Sedan” refers to the starting point (the trip). |
| She worked at the company for six years. | Hon arbetade på företaget i sex år. | “I” indicates the duration (six years). |
| I have been here since this morning. | Jag har varit här sedan imorse. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (this morning). |
| He stayed quiet for the entire meeting. | Han var tyst under hela mötet. | “Under” is used for the general duration of an event (the meeting). |
| We’ve been friends since high school. | Vi har varit vänner sedan gymnasiet. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (high school). |
| She will be in the city for two days. | Hon kommer att vara i staden i två dagar. | “I” shows the duration (two days). |
| I have been working from home since March. | Jag har arbetat hemifrån sedan mars. | “Sedan” refers to the starting point (March). |
| He studied under difficult conditions for years. | Han studerade under svåra förhållanden i åratal. | “Under” used with “i” indicates a long period under conditions. |
| I have been awake since 6 a.m. | Jag har varit vaken sedan klockan sex. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (6 a.m.). |
| She has lived abroad for most of her life. | Hon har bott utomlands under större delen av sitt liv. | “Under” shows a general time period (most of her life). |
| We’ve been married since last year. | Vi har varit gifta sedan förra året. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (last year). |
| He has been exercising for an hour. | Han har tränat i en timme. | “I” shows the duration (one hour). |
| I haven’t eaten since yesterday. | Jag har inte ätit sedan igår. | “Sedan” refers to the starting point (yesterday). |
| He worked as a teacher for five years. | Han arbetade som lärare i fem år. | “I” shows the duration (five years). |
| They have been studying since early morning. | De har studerat sedan tidigt imorse. | “Sedan” indicates the starting point (early morning). |
Conclusion
The prepositions “sedan” (since) and “i/under” (for) in Swedish serve distinct yet complementary roles in
expressing time-related information. “Sedan” is used to refer to the starting point of an action or event, while “i” and “under” help specify the duration. By understanding these distinctions and practicing with real-world examples, learners will be able to use these prepositions accurately and confidently in various contexts.
