bestämma means "to decide" or "to determine." It is the inseparable prefix be- attached to a weak Group 2 verb, and it conjugates regularly: bestämma – bestämde – bestämt, participle bestämd. The one spelling thing to watch is that the double m of the stem simplifies to a single m before the -de / -t endings: bestäm-de, bestäm-t. Two extra facts make this verb essential: the reflexive bestämma sig ("make up one's mind"), and the participle bestämd, which is also the grammatical term for the definite form.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bestämma | bestämmer | bestämde | bestämt | bestäm | Group 2b (weak, -de), be- prefix |
The stem is bestämm-, so the present is bestämmer with the double m, but in the past and supine the cluster simplifies: bestämde (not "bestämmde"), bestämt (not "bestämmt"). The imperative drops the ending entirely: bestäm! The agreeing past participle is bestämd (en), bestämt (ett), bestämda (plural/definite). Note the ä (a-with-umlaut) throughout — it is never a plain a.
Jag bestämmer själv vad jag gör på helgen.
I decide for myself what I do on the weekend. bestämmer — present, double m.
Vi bestämde oss för Italien i sista stund.
We decided on Italy at the last minute. bestämde — past, single m.
Har ni redan bestämt var festen ska vara?
Have you already decided where the party will be? har bestämt — perfect, single m.
Use 1: present, past and perfect — "decide / determine"
The three tenses run bestämmer – bestämde – har bestämt (pluperfect hade bestämt). bestämma covers both "decide" (make a choice) and "determine" (settle, fix, govern) — a person decides a date; a law determines a rule; a factor determines an outcome.
Vädret bestämmer om vi grillar eller inte.
The weather determines whether we barbecue or not. bestämmer — 'determine/govern'.
Chefen bestämde att mötet skulle flyttas.
The boss decided that the meeting would be moved. bestämde att — 'decide that'.
Vem har bestämt de här reglerna egentligen?
Who actually decided these rules? har bestämt — perfect.
Use 2: the reflexive bestämma sig — "make up one's mind"
With the reflexive pronoun, bestämma sig means "to make up one's mind." To name what you decide on, add för: bestämma sig för (något / att göra något). The pronoun agrees with the subject: mig, dig, sig, oss, er, sig.
Jag har inte bestämt mig än — fråga mig imorgon.
I haven't made up my mind yet — ask me tomorrow. har bestämt mig — reflexive perfect.
Bestäm dig nu, tåget går om fem minuter!
Make up your mind now, the train leaves in five minutes! bestäm dig — reflexive imperative.
Hon bestämde sig för att byta jobb redan i januari.
She decided to change jobs back in January. bestämma sig för att — decide to do something.
Use 3: the participle bestämd — "definite, decided" and the grammatical "definite form"
The participle bestämd means "decided, settled, fixed; resolute." Crucially, it is also the standard grammatical term: bestämd form is the definite form of a noun (bilen, huset, böckerna), as opposed to obestämd form, the indefinite (en bil, ett hus, böcker). Learners meet this word constantly in grammar explanations.
Substantivet 'hund' i bestämd form blir 'hunden'.
The noun 'hund' in the definite form becomes 'hunden'. bestämd form — the grammatical 'definite form'.
Hon är en mycket bestämd person — hon ändrar sig sällan.
She's a very determined person — she rarely changes her mind. bestämd — 'resolute' as an adjective.
Common Mistakes
❌ Vi bestämmde oss för Italien.
Incorrect spelling — the double m simplifies before -de. The past is bestämde with one m.
✅ Vi bestämde oss för Italien.
We decided on Italy.
❌ Jag har inte bestämt för att åka än.
Missing the reflexive — 'make up one's mind' needs sig: bestämma sig för. Without it the sentence is incomplete.
✅ Jag har inte bestämt mig för att åka än.
I haven't decided to go yet.
❌ Vi bestämmade tiden igår.
Wrong group — bestämma is a Group 2 (-de) verb, not a Group 1 (-ade) verb. The past is bestämde.
✅ Vi bestämde tiden igår.
We decided the time yesterday.
❌ Bestämm dig nu!
Wrong imperative — the imperative drops the ending and one m: bestäm, not 'bestämm'.
✅ Bestäm dig nu!
Make up your mind now!
❌ Substantivet i bestämda form blir 'hunden'.
Slip in the set term — the grammatical term is the singular 'bestämd form', not 'bestämda form'.
✅ Substantivet i bestämd form blir 'hunden'.
The noun in the definite form becomes 'hunden'.
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