Breakdown of Chefen vill att vi jobbar mellan nio och fem.
och
and
vilja
to want
vi
we
jobba
to work
att
that
chefen
the boss
mellan
between
nio
nine
fem
five
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Questions & Answers about Chefen vill att vi jobbar mellan nio och fem.
What does the att mean here — “to” or “that”?
Here, att means “that” and introduces a subordinate clause. When att is followed by a finite verb like jobbar, it’s “that.”
- Jag vill jobba. = I want to work. (infinitive, no att)
- Jag vill att du jobbar. = I want you to work. (att = that)
Why do we need att after vill?
Because the “wanter” (chefen) is not the same as the “worker” (vi). Swedish uses att before a full clause with its own subject.
- Correct: Chefen vill att vi jobbar.
- Incorrect: Chefen vill vi jobbar. (you can’t drop att)
Should it be vi jobbar or vi ska jobba?
Both are possible, with a nuance:
- att vi jobbar sounds like a general policy/habit (“wants us to work nine to five” as the usual schedule).
- att vi ska jobba makes the expectation or instruction explicit (“wants us to be scheduled/expected to work nine to five,” often future‑oriented). Both are common; ska often stresses obligation/plan.
When do I use vill + infinitive versus vill att + clause?
- Same subject: vill + infinitive — Chefen vill jobba hemifrån. (The boss wants to work from home.)
- Different subject: vill att + [new subject + finite verb] or vill att + [new subject + ska + infinitive] — Chefen vill att vi jobbar/ska jobba hemifrån. If you want a thing (not an action), use vill ha: Chefen vill ha kaffe.
Where does the negation inte go, and does its position change the meaning?
Yes:
- Chefen vill inte att vi jobbar mellan nio och fem. = The boss doesn’t want us to work nine to five. (negates “want”)
- Chefen vill att vi inte jobbar mellan nio och fem. = The boss wants us not to work nine to five. (negates “work” inside the clause)
Why is it vi, not oss?
Because vi is the subject form (nominative). The clause after att needs a subject. Oss is the object form.
- Chefen vill att vi jobbar. (correct)
- Similarly: att jag/du/han/hon/de jobbar, not mig/dig/honom/henne/dem.
Does Chefen mean “the boss,” “my boss,” or “our boss”?
Chefen literally means “the boss” (definite form). In context it usually means “our boss” (the boss at the place we share). Swedish often uses the definite noun for familiar roles without a possessive. If you need to be explicit: min chef, vår chef, din chef.
Why can’t I say min chefen?
With a possessive, Swedish does not use the definite ending. Use the bare noun:
- min chef, vår chef (correct)
- min chefen, vår chefen (wrong)
Is jobbar the same as arbetar?
Yes, both mean “work.” Jobba is more colloquial/neutral; arbeta is more formal or bureaucratic. Both are fine here:
- Chefen vill att vi jobbar/arbetar mellan nio och fem.
Why is it mellan nio och fem and not mellan nio till fem? Can I use från … till …?
Mellan pairs with och, not till.
- Correct: mellan nio och fem
- Incorrect: mellan nio till fem You can also say från nio till fem (“from nine to five”).
Do I need to say klockan before the times?
Optional. Add klockan for clarity/formality:
- mellan nio och fem (everyday)
- mellan klockan nio och klockan fem (more explicit)
- från klockan 9 till klockan 17 (formal/written)
How do I talk about half hours and quarters with this pattern?
Use Swedish time terms:
- halv X = half to X (X − 30). 9:30 = halv tio; 5:30 = halv sex.
- kvart över X = quarter past X; kvart i X = quarter to X. Example: Chefen vill att vi jobbar mellan halv tio och kvart över fem. Or use digits: … mellan 9.30 och 17.15.
Do Swedes use the 24‑hour clock? How do I write these times?
Yes, especially in writing. Common formats:
- 09:00–17:00 or 09.00–17.00 In prose: mellan 09 och 17; with “clock”: mellan klockan 09 och 17.
Why is it att vi jobbar and not att jobbar vi?
In subordinate clauses introduced by att, the word order is Subject + Verb (no verb‑second):
- att vi jobbar (correct)
- att jobbar vi (wrong) Main clauses are verb‑second: Vi jobbar. / I dag jobbar vi.
Can I drop the subject pronoun, like att jobbar mellan nio och fem?
No. Swedish isn’t pro‑drop. You must include the subject:
- att vi jobbar …, att jag jobbar …, etc.
Is it okay to say simply nio till fem without mellan or från?
In speech, yes: Chefen vill att vi jobbar nio till fem is common. In careful writing, prefer mellan nio och fem or från nio till fem.
How would I put the sentence in the past?
Change both verbs to past:
- Chefen ville att vi jobbade mellan nio och fem. If you used ska, it backshifts too: Chefen ville att vi skulle jobba …
How do I pronounce tricky little words like och and att?
- och is usually pronounced like a short “o” [o] in casual speech; the written k is often silent. In careful speech, [ɔk] is also heard.
- att (meaning “that”) is often reduced to a short [a] or [at]. Approximate: Chefen ≈ “SHEH-fen,” jobbar ≈ “YOB-bar.”