Vi ska inte gå till parken utan till biblioteket.

We will not go to the park but to the library instead.

Breakdown of Vi ska inte gå till parken utan till biblioteket.

• gå: to go
• till: to
• biblioteket: the library
• vi: we
• ska: will
• inte: not
• parken: the park
• utan: but

Questions & Answers about Vi ska inte gå till parken utan till biblioteket.

Why is Swedish using utan here instead of men?

Use utan after a negation to correct/replace something: it means “but rather/instead.” Use men for a simple contrast without correction.

• Corrective: Jag dricker inte te, utan kaffe.
• Simple contrast: Jag gillar te, men kaffe är godare. Note: utan in this sense virtually always follows a negation like inte in the preceding clause.

Where does inte go with ska and gå?

In a main clause, Swedish is V2: the finite verb (ska) comes second, and the sentence adverb (inte) follows it: Vi ska inte gå … In a subordinate clause, inte comes before the finite verb: … att vi inte ska gå …

Could I use kommer att instead of ska?

Yes: Vi kommer inte att gå till parken utan till biblioteket.

• ska often suggests intention/plan or even obligation depending on context.
• kommer att is a more neutral prediction about the future. Both work here; the nuance is subtle.

Do I have to repeat till before biblioteket?

Yes. You need parallel prepositional phrases:

• Correct: … till parken utan till biblioteket.
• Wrong: … till parken utan biblioteket. (missing the preposition)

Why is there no comma before utan?

No comma when utan is followed by a phrase, not a full clause:

• No comma: … inte gå till parken utan till biblioteket. Use a comma if what follows is a full clause with its own subject and verb:
• Vi ska inte gå till parken, utan vi ska gå till biblioteket.

Can I drop gå completely?

Yes. Vi ska inte till parken utan till biblioteket is idiomatic; the motion verb is understood. You can also keep it for symmetry, but it’s heavier: Vi ska inte gå till parken, utan gå till biblioteket.

Does gå here mean “walk” specifically?

Usually yes. gå typically means “walk.” If you mean going by vehicle, use åka:

• Vi ska inte åka till parken utan till biblioteket. Note: Some fixed expressions use gå to mean “attend/go” (e.g., gå på bio), but gå till parken tends to imply walking.

Why are parken and biblioteket definite?

Swedish often uses the definite form for specific, context-known places (e.g., the local park/library).

• Definite: till parken / till biblioteket (specific)
• Indefinite: till en park / till ett bibliotek (any park/library) Also note the genders: en park → parken, ett bibliotek → biblioteket.

Why till and not i or på?

• till = movement “to(wards)” a destination: gå/åka till biblioteket/parken.
• i/på = location once there:
  • i parken (in the park),
  • på biblioteket (at the library, institutionally), or i biblioteket (literally inside the building).

What’s the difference between utan and utan att?

• utan (conjunction) = “but rather,” used after a negation to contrast alternatives: Inte X, utan Y.
• utan att (preposition + att) = “without -ing”: utan att gå (“without going”). Different structures and meanings.

Can I front the destination for emphasis?

Yes. For example:

• Till biblioteket ska vi (gå), inte till parken. This topicalizes the destination. The finite verb (ska) stays in second position (V2). You can include or omit gå here.

Is skall the same as ska?

Yes in meaning, but ska is the standard modern form. skall is more formal/old-fashioned and common in legal or very formal writing.