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Questions & Answers about Du får inte komma sent.
What does the verb får mean in this sentence?
Here, får is a modal verb meaning may/are allowed to. With inte, it expresses a prohibition (not allowed), not the receive/get sense of få.
Is Du får inte ... closer to mustn’t or shouldn’t?
Closer to mustn’t / are not allowed to. It states a rule or prohibition. Shouldn’t would be borde inte or ska inte, which are softer.
How is får inte different from måste inte?
- får inte = not permitted (prohibited).
- måste inte = not required (you don’t have to).
Example: Du måste inte komma tidigt means you’re not obliged to come early, but you may.
How is får inte different from kan inte?
- kan inte = cannot/are unable (ability).
- får inte = not allowed (permission).
Example: Jag kan inte komma (I’m unable) vs Jag får inte komma (I’m not permitted).
Why is there no att before komma?
Modal verbs take a bare infinitive: kan, ska, vill, måste, bör, får + infinitive without att. Hence får komma, not får att komma.
Why does inte come after får?
Main clauses are V2: the finite verb is in second position. With Du first, får is second, so inte follows it: Du får inte ...
- Fronted element: Idag får du inte komma sent.
- Subordinate clause: sentence adverbs (like inte) come before the finite verb: att du inte får komma sent.
What’s the difference between komma sent and komma för sent?
- komma sent: arrive late.
- komma för sent: arrive too late (beyond what’s acceptable/allowed).
Why sent and not sen?
Both occur. sent is the standard written adverb “late.” sen is very common in speech. Note sen is also the adjective “late” (e.g., en sen kväll) and the informal form of sedan (“then/after”), so prefer sent in careful writing here.
Can I use an imperative instead, like Kom inte sent!?
Yes. Kom inte sent! is a direct command. Du får inte komma sent. states a rule or lack of permission. The imperative can sound blunter; får inte sounds like policy or instructions.
Could I phrase it positively as “be on time”?
Yes: Du måste komma i tid (strong) or Kom i tid, tack (polite request). These avoid explicit prohibition while conveying the requirement.
Why is it komma and not kommer?
After a modal (får) you use the infinitive (komma). Kommer is the finite present used without a modal: Du kommer sent (you are arriving late / you tend to arrive late).
Is vara sen interchangeable with komma sent?
Related but not identical:
- vara sen = be late (state): Jag är sen.
- komma sent = arrive late (event): Jag kommer sent.
How would this change for past or future?
- Past permission: Du fick inte komma sent.
- Perfect: Du har inte fått komma sent.
- Future/anticipated permission: Du kommer inte att få komma sent.
What about addressing a group or being formal—ni?
To a group: Ni får inte komma sent. Singular polite Ni exists but is rare today; use du for one person unless a specific formal context calls for Ni.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- får: long vowel, like the vowel in English “saw.”
- komma: short o + long mm (“KOM-ma”).
- sent: long e (like the vowel in “say,” but kept pure).
In casual speech inte may reduce to something like ’nte, but it’s not written that way.