In Swedish, you can use the present participle to describe the manner in which someone performs an action, much like the English "-ing" form (e.g., "came running" or "woke up crying").
To form the present participle:
- For verbs ending in -a, add -nde (e.g., skrika → skrikande).
- For short verbs ending in a vowel other than -a, add -ende (e.g., fly → flyende).
| The woman came screaming out from the burning house. | Kvinnan kom skrikande ut från det brinnande huset. |
| The thief disappeared fleeing into the darkness. | Tjuven försvann flyende in i mörkret. |
Motion and Position
Present participles frequently pair with verbs of position (like sitta or ligga) or waiting to paint a vivid picture. The participle acts as an adverb describing the main verb.
| We waited trembling for the ambulance in the rain. | Vi väntade darrande på ambulansen i regnet. |
| He lay crying on the floor. | Han låg gråtande på golvet. |
It is also common to pair komma (to come) with a participle to describe exactly how someone arrives on the scene:
| The firefighter came running into the house. | Brandmannen kom springande in i huset. |
Sudden Actions and Reactions
This structure is especially useful when describing sudden actions—such as falling (falla) or waking up (vakna)—during emergencies or accidents.
| She woke up screaming from the pain. | Hon vaknade skrikande av smärtan. |
| The actor fell screaming from the stage. | Skådespelaren föll skrikande från scenen. |
| The man fell bleeding down onto the floor. | Mannen föll blödande ner på golvet. |
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