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Questions & Answers about Vi står vid dörren.
Why is it står and not är?
Swedish often uses posture verbs to describe where someone is and in what position:
- stå = stand
- sitta = sit
- ligga = lie (be lying)
So Vi står vid dörren highlights that we are standing. Vi är vid dörren is possible but less specific; it just says we are at the door without telling the posture.
Does Swedish står cover both “we stand” and “we are standing”?
Yes. Swedish has one present tense, so Vi står … can mean both a general or a right-now action. Context decides.
What exactly does vid mean here, and how does it differ from other prepositions?
vid means “at/by/near (close to).” Compare:
- vid dörren = at/by the door (in the vicinity)
- framför dörren = in front of the door (on the side facing it)
- utanför dörren = outside the door (on the outside of the room/building)
- bredvid dörren = beside/next to the door (to the side)
- intill dörren = right up against/very close to the door
- i dörren / i dörröppningen = in the doorway
- på dörren = on the door (e.g., a sign)
- With people use hos: Vi är hos Anna = We’re at Anna’s place.