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Questions & Answers about Får jag ringa dig nu?
What’s the difference between using får and kan here (as in Får jag… vs Kan jag…)?
- Får jag… asks for permission: “May I…?” It’s the clearest way to ask if something is allowed.
- Kan jag… literally asks about ability: “Can I…?”, but in everyday speech it often functions as a softer permission request too.
- More polite/hedged options: Skulle jag kunna ringa dig nu? or Skulle det vara okej om jag ringde nu?
- Different meaning: Ska jag ringa dig nu? = “Should I call you now?” (seeking guidance, not permission).
Why is there no att before ringa?
After modal (or modal-like) verbs in Swedish—such as få, kunna, måste, ska, vill, bör, behöver—the next verb is a bare infinitive (no att). So it’s Får jag ringa…, not Får jag att ringa…
What’s the word order here, and why does the verb come first?
In yes/no questions, Swedish puts the finite verb first. Pattern here: Finite verb – Subject – Infinitive – Object – Adverb.
- Får (finite verb) jag (subject) ringa (infinitive) dig (object) nu (adverb). The corresponding statement would be: Jag får ringa dig nu.
Can I use du instead of dig?
No. Du is the subject form (“you” as the doer). Dig is the object form (“you” as the receiver). Here, “you” is the person being called, so it must be dig.
- Subject: jag, du, han, hon, den/det, vi, ni, de
- Object: mig, dig, honom, henne, den/det, oss, er, dem
Is spelling dej okay instead of dig? How is it pronounced?
- Standard spelling is dig. Informal spelling dej reflects the common pronunciation.
- In most of Sweden, dig is pronounced like “day” [dej]. In Finland-Swedish and very careful speech you may hear [dɪg].
- Same applies to mig → pronounced “may” [mej] in everyday Sweden-Swedish, though spelled mig.
Should I say ringa, ringa upp, or ringa tillbaka?
- ringa (någon) = call (someone). Neutral and most common.
- ringa upp (någon) = call up (initiate a call, often soon). Slightly more explicit.
- ringa tillbaka = call back (return a call). Example: Kan jag ringa upp dig senare? = “Can I call you (back/up) later?”
Do I need till (as in ringa till dig) or is ringa dig enough?
Both are correct:
- ringa någon is very common in Sweden.
- ringa till någon is also standard (and common in Finland-Swedish). Meaning is the same; choose either.
Is Ni/er a polite form here, like French “vous”? Should I say Får jag ringa er nu?
- Ni/er is primarily plural “you.” It can be used as a formal singular in some contexts, but in modern Swedish it may sound old-fashioned or even condescending depending on tone and context.
- Default to du/dig for one person. Use er only if you mean several people.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence naturally?
Approximate Sweden-Swedish:
- får: /foːr/ (long “o” sound), r is tapped/rolled
- jag: often “ja” /jɑː/ in everyday speech
- ringa: /ˈrɪŋa/ (“RING-ah”)
- dig: typically /dej/ (“day”)
- nu: /nʉː/ (like “new” but with a tighter u) Put it together with smooth linking: “foor ya rɪng-a day nʉː” (very rough guide).
What intonation should I use for this yes/no question?
A natural pattern is a noticeable pitch on the first stressed word (Får) and a slight rise toward the end. If in doubt, a gentle rising intonation at the end clearly signals a yes/no question.
Where does inte go if I want to negate it (e.g., “May I not call you now?”)?
Place inte after the finite verb and subject:
- Får jag inte ringa dig nu? If you say Får inte jag…, you’re emphasizing “I” specifically (implying maybe others can, but not me).
Can I omit dig and just say Får jag ringa nu?
Yes, if it’s obvious from context who you intend to call (e.g., you’re texting that person). Otherwise, include dig to be clear.
How can I make the request softer or more polite?
Try:
- Skulle jag kunna ringa dig nu?
- Är det okej om jag ringer nu?
- Passar det att jag ringer nu?
- När skulle det passa att jag ringer? (asks for a good time)
How does få conjugate, and does it always mean “may”?
- Forms: få (infinitive), får (present), fick (past), fått (supine).
- Meanings:
- Permission: Jag får ringa. (I’m allowed to call.)
- Receive/get: Jag fick ett paket. (I got a package.)
- Get to/manage to: Jag fick ringa henne till slut. (I got to/managed to call her in the end.) Note: får is also the noun “sheep” (unrelated here).