Learn Hardcore Swedish: Jag går hem nu.

Swedish often places time adverbs at the end in neutral statements. You can also front it for emphasis: Nu går jag hem. Both are correct; sentence-final nu sounds neutral, initial Nu adds focus to “now.”

Is Jag går nu hem correct?

It’s technically possible but sounds awkward or marked. The natural order is either Jag går hem nu (neutral) or Nu går jag hem (emphatic). Place before time is the usual flow here.

Do I need a preposition with hem (like “to”)?

No. Hem itself means “(to) home” and functions as a directional adverb, so no till is needed. Examples:

Correct: Jag går hem.
Wrong: Jag går till hem. Use till only when specifying whose place: Jag går hem till mamma.

What’s the difference between hem, hemma, and hemåt?

hem: “(to) home” (direction/motion). Example: Jag går hem.
hemma: “at home” (location/state). Example: Jag är hemma.
hemåt: “homewards/toward home” (direction, stylistic). Example: Jag går hemåt.

Does går imply that I’m walking? What if I’m taking transport?

Yes, gå primarily implies moving on foot. If you’re using transport, use:

åka (go by vehicle): Jag åker hem nu.
More casual “head home”: Jag drar/sticker hem nu.
“Come home” (arrival): Jag kommer hem [snart].

Can Swedish present tense cover the English -ing form?

Yes. Swedish lacks a separate present progressive, so Jag går hem nu covers “I go home now” and “I am going home now.” Context and adverbs (like nu) make the meaning clear.

How do I negate it?

Place inte after the finite verb (and after the subject):

Jag går inte hem nu. If you front Nu, keep verb-second:
Nu går jag inte hem.

How do I make it a yes–no question or an information question?

Yes–no: invert subject and verb: Går du hem nu?
Information question: add a question word and keep verb-second:
- När går du hem? (When are you going home?)
- Vart går du nu? (Where are you going now? — direction)

What are some natural alternatives with slightly different tone?

Neutral/emphatic: Nu går jag hem.
Informal: Jag sticker hem nu. / Jag drar hem nu.
Intention/plan: Jag ska hem nu. (I’m off home now)
Transport: Jag åker hem nu.

Why is verb-second (V2) relevant here?

Swedish main clauses put the finite verb in second position. If you front an element like Nu, the finite verb (går) must come next: Nu går jag hem (not “Nu jag går hem”).

Pronunciation tips?

Jag: often [jɑː] in Sweden (the final g is commonly silent); in some dialects [jɑg].
går: [ɡoːr] (long å like the vowel in “born”).
hem: [hɛm] (short e, like “hem” in “hemisphere”).
nu: [nʉː] (long fronted rounded vowel; no exact English equivalent—think of “ee” with rounded lips).
j is like English “y” in “yes.”

Is gå irregular? What are its common forms?

Yes:

Infinitive: gå
Present: går
Past (preterite): gick
Supine (used with har/hade): gått
Imperative: gå!

Can I drop the subject pronoun (Jag) like in Spanish?

No. Swedish is not a pro-drop language. You normally must include the subject pronoun: Jag går hem nu.

Does nu only mean “now,” or can it be a discourse word?

Besides time “now,” nu can function as a discourse marker (softening/transition): Nu ska vi se (“Now let’s see”). In Jag går hem nu, it’s a literal time adverb.

How do I say “right now” or strengthen the immediacy?

just nu (right now): Jag går hem just nu.
nu direkt / nu på en gång (right away): Jag går hem nu direkt.
med detsamma (immediately): Jag går hem med detsamma.

Any common add-ons with hem I should know?

From home: hemifrån — Jag jobbar hemifrån.
Back home (again): hem igen — Jag är hem igen.
To someone’s home: hem till [någon] — Jag går hem till Sara.
From somewhere to home: gå/åka hem från [plats] — Jag åker hem från jobbet.

Does gå hem ever have an idiomatic meaning?

Yes, in other contexts it can mean “to land/appeal” (e.g., Skämtet gick hem = “The joke landed”). In Jag går hem nu, it’s the literal motion meaning.