Jag vill ta reda på varför bussen är sen i dag.

I want to find out why the bus is late today.

Breakdown of Jag vill ta reda på varför bussen är sen i dag.

• jag: I
• vara: to be
• vilja: to want
• sen: late
• varför: why
• bussen: the bus
• i dag: today
• ta reda på: to find out

Questions & Answers about Jag vill ta reda på varför bussen är sen i dag.

Why is there no att before ta in Jag vill ta reda på …?

Because vill is a modal verb, and modal verbs in Swedish are normally followed by the bare infinitive (the infinitive without att):

• Jag vill gå. = I want to go.
• Jag kan komma. = I can come.
  So Jag vill ta … is the expected pattern, not Jag vill att ta ….

What does ta reda på mean, and how does it work grammatically?

Ta reda på is a very common Swedish phrasal expression meaning find out / figure out / get information about.
Grammatically, it behaves like a multi-word verb:

• ta = infinitive verb
• reda is part of the fixed expression
• på is the particle/preposition that belongs to the expression
  You can use it with a clause (ta reda på varför …) or a noun phrase:
• Jag vill ta reda på svaret. = I want to find out the answer.

Is ta reda på separable (can words go between the parts)?

Yes, it often is. In main clauses with a finite verb, Swedish can split these elements, especially in certain tenses/structures. For example:

• Jag tog reda på det. = I found it out.
• Jag ska ta reda på det. = I’m going to find it out.
  But you also commonly see it kept together, especially in infinitive form as here: vill ta reda på.

Why is the word order varför bussen är sen and not varför är bussen sen?

Because varför introduces an indirect question (a subordinate clause), and Swedish uses subordinate clause word order: the verb comes after the subject.

• Direct question: Varför är bussen sen? (verb before subject)
• Indirect question: … varför bussen är sen. (subject before verb)

What is bussen exactly—why not en buss?

Bussen is the definite form: the bus. Swedish often marks definiteness on the noun itself with a suffix:

• en buss = a bus
• bussen = the bus
  Since the sentence refers to a specific bus the speaker has in mind (e.g., the bus they’re waiting for), bussen is natural.

Why is it sen and not sent?

Sen is an adjective meaning late. Swedish adjectives agree with grammatical gender/number:

• common gender (en-word): bussen är sen
• neuter (ett-word): tåget är sent (the train is late)
• plural: bussarna är sena (the buses are late)

Could I say försenad instead of sen?

Often yes, but there’s a nuance:

• sen = late (simple, very common for transport and people)
• försenad = delayed (more “official”, focuses on a delay relative to schedule)
  Both can work for a bus:
• Bussen är sen. = The bus is late.
• Bussen är försenad. = The bus is delayed.

Why is i dag written as two words? Is idag wrong?

Both exist. i dag (two words) is traditionally recommended and still very common. idag (one word) is also widely used in modern Swedish. You can treat it like a spelling/style choice in most contexts; you’ll see both in real life.

Where can i dag go in the sentence? Is the position fixed?

It’s fairly flexible. i dag is an adverbial, and Swedish often allows it in several natural positions, e.g.:

• … varför bussen är sen i dag. (as in your sentence)
• … varför bussen är sen idag. (same, different spelling)
• … varför bussen i dag är sen. (also possible, a bit more “written”/emphatic on “today”)
  All are grammatical; the choice can slightly shift emphasis.

Is Jag vill ta reda på … the most natural way to say this, or would Swedes phrase it differently?

It’s natural and correct. Two common alternatives depending on tone are:

• Jag vill veta varför bussen är sen i dag. = I want to know why the bus is late today. (simpler)
• Jag skulle vilja ta reda på varför … = I’d like to find out why … (more polite/soft)