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Jag vill ha den där.

Jag vill ha den där.
I want that one.
FromLesson 7inHardcore Swedish
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Breakdown of Jag vill ha den där.

jag
I
ha
to have
vilja
to want
den där
that one
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Questions & Answers about Jag vill ha den där.

Why do I need the verb ha after vill?

In Swedish, vill behaves like “want to,” so it normally needs an infinitive verb after it. If you want a thing, you use the verb ha (“to have”):

  • Correct: Jag vill ha den där. (I want to have that one.)
  • Correct: Jag vill gå. (I want to go.)
  • Wrong: Jag vill den där. (You can’t want a noun directly; you need ha.)
Can I say just Jag vill den där?

No. When the thing you want is a noun or pronoun, Swedish requires ha: Jag vill ha den där.

  • Natural alternatives in a shop/café: Jag tar den där. (“I’ll take that one.”), Kan jag få den där, tack?, Jag skulle vilja ha den där, tack.
When do I use den versus det?

They agree with the gender of the noun you’re referring to:

  • den for common gender (en-words): den där tröjan (that sweater), or as a pronoun: den där (that one, referring to an en-word).
  • det for neuter (ett-words): det där huset (that house), or as a pronoun: det där (that one, referring to an ett-word).
How do I say “those” (plural)?

Use de där for “those.” In speech it’s pronounced like dom där.

  • With a noun: de där böckerna (those books).
  • As a pronoun: Jag vill ha de där. (I want those.)
  • Tip: In writing, avoid dem där; stick to de där (spoken as dom där).
What’s the difference between den där and den här?
  • den här = “this (one)” (near the speaker).
  • den där = “that (one)” (farther away in space, time, or mentality). Same pattern for neuter: det här / det där; plural: de här / de där.
Is Jag vill ha den där polite enough in a store?

It’s understandable but can sound blunt. More polite/idiomatic options:

  • Jag skulle vilja ha den där, tack.
  • Kan jag få den där, tack?
  • Jag tar den där, tack. Adding tack softens the request.
Where do I put the negation inte?

After the finite verb (vill):

  • Jag vill inte ha den där. You can also front the object for emphasis:
  • Den där vill jag inte ha.
Can I front the object for emphasis?

Yes. Swedish main clauses like the finite verb in second position (the V2 rule):

  • Neutral: Jag vill ha den där.
  • Emphatic: Den där vill jag ha. (puts focus on “that one.”)
What if I name the thing instead of using a pronoun?

With a demonstrative + noun, Swedish uses “double definiteness” (the noun takes the definite ending):

  • den där boken (that book)
  • det där huset (that house)
  • de där bilarna (those cars) Not: ✗ den där bok, ✗ det där hus, ✗ de där bilar.
Can I say den boken där instead of den där boken?
Yes. Den boken där is also idiomatic and can sound a bit more conversational or “afterthought-y.” Both mean “that book,” with similar meaning; use whichever flows better in context.
How do denna/detta/dessa compare to den här/det här/de här and den där/det där/de där?
  • denna/detta/dessa ≈ “this/these,” more formal/written. They come before an indefinite-looking noun (no definite ending): denna bok, detta hus, dessa böcker.
  • den här/det här/de här are the everyday “this/these.”
  • den där/det där/de där are “that/those.” Don’t mix them (e.g., not ✗ denna där).
Pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?
  • Jag often sounds like “ja” [jɑː] in everyday speech (the final g is usually not pronounced).
  • vill [vɪl]
  • ha [hɑː] (long vowel)
  • den [dɛn]
  • där [dɛːr] (long vowel; main stress often falls here if you’re contrasting this vs that). Spoken fluently: something like [jɑː vɪl hɑː dɛn dɛːr].
Can I just say Jag vill ha den instead of den där?
Yes, if context already makes it clear which item you mean. den där explicitly signals “that one (over there/that one we’re talking about),” which helps when pointing or contrasting.
Does den där carry any emotional tone?
Neutral by default, but intonation matters. With a sharper or dismissive tone, den där can sound negative (“that one,” as in “that annoying one”). With a neutral or friendly tone while pointing, it’s perfectly fine.
How do I say it in the past or more politely?
  • Past desire: Jag ville ha den där. (I wanted that one.)
  • Polite request (very common): Jag skulle vilja ha den där, tack. (I would like to have that one, please.)