Jag sitter på trappan och dricker kaffe.

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Breakdown of Jag sitter på trappan och dricker kaffe.

• och: and
• dricka: to drink
• kaffet: the coffee

Questions & Answers about Jag sitter på trappan och dricker kaffe.

Why does the sentence use sitter instead of är, when in English we say I am sitting?

In Swedish you usually use a posture verb (like sitter, står, ligger) instead of är to describe how and where someone is positioned.

• Jag sitter på trappan = literally I sit on the stairs, but it means I am sitting on the stairs right now.
• Jag är på trappan would mean I am on the stairs (located there), but it does not clearly say that you are sitting; you could be standing or doing something else.

So:

• To say what you are doing with your body right now: use sitter / står / ligger.
• To say only where you are (location): use är.

That is why Jag sitter på trappan is the normal, natural choice here.

Is sitter a special continuous form like English am sitting?