Questions & Answers about Jag vill bara dricka kaffe.
Does Swedish vill mean “want” or “will”?
It means “want,” expressing desire/volition, not future time. For future, use ska, kommer (att), or the present with a time expression.
- Jag vill dricka kaffe. = I want to drink coffee.
- Jag ska dricka kaffe imorgon. / Jag kommer att dricka kaffe imorgon. = I will drink coffee tomorrow.
- Jag dricker kaffe imorgon. = I’m drinking coffee tomorrow. (scheduled/near future)
Why is there no att before dricka?
After modal(-like) verbs such as vill, kan, ska, måste, bör, brukar, Swedish omits att before the infinitive:
- Jag vill dricka kaffe. But when att means “that,” it appears before a full clause:
- Jag vill att du dricker kaffe. = I want you to drink coffee.
Why is it dricka and not dricker?
Because vill (want) is followed by the infinitive (dricka). Dricker is a finite present-tense verb used when it’s the main verb:
- Jag dricker kaffe. = I drink coffee / I’m drinking coffee.
- Jag vill dricka kaffe. = I want to drink coffee.