Learn Hardcore Swedish: Bussen kör mot stationen nu. - The bus is driving toward the station now.

Kör literally means “drives” (operates a vehicle). In everyday Swedish, you can let the vehicle be the subject: Bussen kör = “The bus is driving/going.” The driver is understood from context. If you want to mention the driver, say Busschauffören kör bussen (“The bus driver is driving the bus”).

Use åker for passengers: Jag åker buss (“I’m riding the bus”). Saying Bussen åker is possible but less idiomatic than Bussen kör or Bussen går (see below).

Why does kör end in -r? Do Swedish verbs change with the subject?

Present tense verbs usually end in -r and do not change with the subject (no person/number agreement). Infinitive: att köra. Present: kör for all persons (I/you/he/she/it/we/they).

Other patterns you’ll meet: prata → pratar, läsa → läser. But always one present form for all subjects.

Can this sentence mean both “The bus drives toward the station now” and “The bus is driving toward the station now”?

Yes. Swedish present covers both English simple and progressive aspects. Nu helps show it’s happening right now. If you want a very explicit “in progress” feel, a natural alternative is Bussen är på väg mot stationen (“The bus is on its way toward the station”). The construction håller på att köra is rarely used about a bus and can sound odd here.

Why is there no separate word for “the” in Bussen and stationen?

Swedish usually marks definiteness with a suffix:

buss → bussen = “the bus”
station → stationen = “the station”

When an adjective is added, you also add a fronted article:

den röda bussen (“the red bus”)
den gamla stationen (“the old station”)

What gender are buss and station, and how do I make their plurals?

Both are common gender (en-words).

Indefinite singular: en buss, en station
Indefinite plural: bussar, stationer
Definite plural: bussarna, stationerna

What’s the difference between mot and till?

mot = “toward(s)”: direction/orientation without guaranteeing arrival.
- Bussen kör mot stationen = It’s heading in the station’s direction (it may or may not stop there).
till = “to”: destination/arrival is intended or expected.
- Bussen kör till stationen = It’s going to the station (arriving there).

Can mot also mean “against”?

Yes. Mot can mean “against,” both physically and figuratively:

Luta dig mot väggen = Lean against the wall.
Det är mot reglerna = It’s against the rules.

In your sentence, mot is the directional sense (“toward”).

Is emot interchangeable with mot?

Not here. In many contexts emot overlaps with mot, but with motion verbs like köra, köra emot commonly means “drive into/collide with” (e.g., Han körde emot ett träd = He drove into a tree). For “toward,” stick with mot.

Where can I put nu? Is the placement at the end required?

You have several natural options:

Bussen kör nu mot stationen.
Nu kör bussen mot stationen.
Bussen kör mot stationen nu.

All are correct. Swedish often places time adverbs early, so the first two are slightly more neutral; the last can sound like an afterthought or emphasis.

If I start with Nu, do I need to change the word order?

Yes—Swedish main clauses are V2: the finite verb goes in second position. So:

Nu kör bussen mot stationen. (Adverb first, then verb, then subject.)

How do I negate the sentence?

Place inte (not) after the finite verb:

Bussen kör inte mot stationen nu. You can also move nu:
Bussen kör inte nu mot stationen. If you mean it’s not going to the station (destination), use till:
Bussen kör inte till stationen nu.

Pronunciation tips for the key words?

bussen: [ˈbɵsːɛn]. Short rounded vowel (like a short, rounded “uh”) in the first syllable, double ss gives a long [s], stress on the first syllable.
kör: [ɕøːr]. Soft “k” before ö becomes the Swedish “kj-sound” [ɕ] (somewhere between “sh” and “ch”), ö is like French eu in “bleu,” long vowel here.
mot: [muːt]. Long “oo” sound; pronounce the final t.
nu: [nʉː]. Long, front rounded u (no exact English equivalent—say “ee” while rounding your lips).

Is Bussen går mot stationen nu also correct?

Yes. Gå (“go/walk”) is widely used for scheduled transport: Bussen/tåget/spårvagnen går. It emphasizes the service running/departing rather than the act of driving.

As a passenger, how do I say “I’m going to the station now”?

Jag åker till stationen nu.
Note: Jag kör till stationen nu means you’re the one driving a vehicle.

What if the bus is approaching but won’t stop at the station?

Use förbi (“past”):

Bussen kör förbi stationen nu. Or make it explicit:
Bussen kör mot stationen men stannar inte.

How do I ask a yes/no question about this?

Invert verb and subject:

Kör bussen mot stationen nu? For wh-questions:
När kör bussen mot stationen? (When…)
Vart kör bussen nu? (Where to…)