Asking for a Raise
Asking your boss for more money can be nerve-wracking. A successful salary discussion requires preparation and a good deal of self-confidence.
| The salary discussion requires self-confidence. | Lönesamtalet kräver självförtroende. |
The Deponent Verb "törs" (Dare)
To express that you "dare" to do something, use the verb törs. Notice that it ends in an -s. In Swedish, a verb that always ends in -s but has an active (rather than passive) meaning is called a deponent verb.
Törs acts as a semi-modal verb. This means that, just like kan (can) or vill (want), it is followed directly by a bare infinitive—a verb in its infinitive form without the marker att (to).
| Today I finally dare to book the salary discussion. | Idag törs jag äntligen boka lönesamtalet. |
| I dare to discuss the performance with the boss. | Jag törs diskutera prestationen med chefen. |
Questions and Negations
When making a negative statement or asking a question, törs behaves like any other present-tense verb. In a subject-first main clause, inte comes directly after törs, and when forming a question, törs moves to the front of the sentence.
| I do not dare to ask for a pay rise because I stutter. | Jag törs inte be om en löneförhöjning därför att jag stammar. |
| Do you dare to ask the boss if you lack competence? | Törs du fråga chefen om du saknar kompetens? |
"Törs" in Subordinate Clauses
Remember your standard word order rules for subordinate clauses: if törs is used in a dependent clause (such as after eftersom or att), sentence adverbs like inte must be placed before the verb.
| She is nervous since she does not dare to risk a rejection. | Hon är nervös eftersom hon inte törs riskera ett avslag. |