Breakdown of Jag skriver uppgifterna i min kalender varje måndag.
jag
I
i
in
min
my
varje
every
skriva
to write
kalendern
the calendar
uppgiften
the task
måndagen
the Monday
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Questions & Answers about Jag skriver uppgifterna i min kalender varje måndag.
Why is it uppgifterna (definite plural) here? When would I use uppgifter instead?
- uppgift = a task/assignment (singular, indefinite)
- uppgiften = the task (singular, definite)
- uppgifter = tasks (plural, indefinite)
- uppgifterna = the tasks (plural, definite)
Use uppgifterna when the tasks are specific/known in context (e.g., the ones for this week). Use uppgifter if you mean tasks in general or some tasks not previously identified. Note that plain Jag skriver uppgifter… can also be read as “I write assignments,” so many speakers add a particle: Jag skriver in/upp uppgifter i min kalender… to make “write down/enter” crystal-clear.
Can I say i kalendern instead of i min kalender?
Yes. If it’s obvious you mean your own calendar, Swedish often prefers the definite form without a possessive: i kalendern. Both are fine, but avoid “double definiteness”: you cannot say min kalendern. It’s either min kalender (possessive, no -n) or kalendern (definite, no possessive).
Why is it i (in) my calendar and not på (on) my calendar?
Swedish uses:
- i kalendern/boken for writing “in” a calendar/book (treated as something you write inside)
- på listan/tavlan for writing “on” a list/board So you write entries i min kalender. Using på with calendar in this sense sounds off.
Is varje måndag the same as på måndagar?
Both mean “every Monday,” but:
- varje måndag (varje + singular) emphasizes each individual Monday.
- på måndagar (på + plural) describes a habitual pattern “on Mondays.” They’re near-equivalents; choose whichever fits your style. Do not say på varje måndag.
Can I start the sentence with the time phrase?
Yes, and then apply the V2 rule (verb in second position):
- Varje måndag skriver jag uppgifterna i min kalender. In your original order, the verb is already second because the subject (Jag) comes first: Jag skriver …. Both orders are natural in Swedish.
Is the order i min kalender before varje måndag required?
No. Both are possible:
- Jag skriver uppgifterna i min kalender varje måndag.
- Jag skriver uppgifterna varje måndag i min kalender. Swedish is flexible with multiple adverbials; the first version is very idiomatic. Changing the order can slightly shift the focus, but neither is wrong.
How do I negate this sentence correctly?
Place inte after the finite verb and (usually) before a full noun object:
- Jag skriver inte uppgifterna i min kalender varje måndag. If you mean “not every Monday,” make that explicit:
- Jag skriver uppgifterna i min kalender inte varje måndag (less common)
- Better: Jag skriver inte uppgifterna i min kalender varje måndag, bara ibland. Or front the time phrase for emphasis: Varje måndag skriver jag inte … (means “On Mondays I don’t …,” which restricts it to Mondays).
Should I say skriver, skriver in, skriver upp, or skriver ner here?
- skriva: write (neutral)
- skriva in: enter (into a system/form/calendar) – very natural with calendars
- skriva upp: jot down, note down (informal, also common)
- skriva ner/ned: write down (emphasis on transferring to paper/notes)
All work, but for calendars many Swedes prefer skriva in or skriva upp:
Jag skriver in/upp uppgifterna i min kalender…
Note: skriva upp uppgifterna is grammatically fine but can sound a bit tongue‑twisty.
Why is it min and not mitt or mina?
Because kalender is a common-gender (en‑word) noun in singular:
- min kalender (singular, en‑word)
- mitt is for ett‑words (e.g., mitt hus)
- mina is for plural (e.g., mina kalendrar)
Are weekdays capitalized in Swedish?
No. Weekdays and months are written in lowercase: måndag, tisdag, etc. Your varje måndag is correctly lowercased.
Does Swedish present tense cover habitual actions like this?
Yes. skriver (present) naturally expresses habitual or repeated actions. If you want to stress the habitual nature, you can add brukar:
Jag brukar skriva in uppgifterna i min kalender på måndagar.
How do I pronounce tricky parts like varje and uppgifterna?
- varje ≈ “VAR-yeh” (the j is a “y”-sound).
- uppgift has a soft g before i, so it’s like “UPP‑yift.”
- uppgifterna ≈ “UPP‑yif‑ter‑na.” In many accents, the rn in erna merges into a retroflex n-sound. Don’t worry if you can’t do that yet; a plain “r+n” is readily understood.
Is almanacka a good synonym for kalender?
Yes, but there’s a nuance. kalender is the default modern word (including digital). almanacka can sound a bit old-fashioned or refer to a physical diary/wall calendar. In most contexts about scheduling, kalender is the safest choice.