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)?