Breakdown of Jag tar på mig solglasögon så fort solen kommer fram.
jag
I
mig
me
solen
the sun
ta på
to put on
Questions & Answers about Jag tar på mig solglasögon så fort solen kommer fram.
What is the dictionary form of tar på mig, and why is it split up?
The dictionary form is ta på sig, which means to put on (clothes, glasses, etc.).
In the sentence, it appears as tar på mig because:
- ta changes to tar in the present tense
- sig changes to mig because the subject is jag
- Swedish often splits this kind of verb phrase in a sentence
So:
- ta på sig = to put on oneself
- jag tar på mig = I put on myself / I put on
This is very common in Swedish with verb + particle + reflexive structures.
Why is it mig and not sig?
Because sig is only used for he/she/it/they when the action refers back to the subject.
Since the subject here is jag, Swedish uses mig.
Compare:
- Jag tar på mig solglasögon. = I put on sunglasses.
- Hon tar på sig solglasögon. = She puts on sunglasses.
A quick pattern:
- jag → mig
- du → dig
- han/hon/den/det/de → sig
So ta på sig is the infinitive form you learn in a dictionary, but in real sentences the pronoun changes.