Present perfect: Groups 1 and 2 (har)

The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense describes recent experiences or past actions that still affect the present. In Swedish, form it just like in English: use the auxiliary verb har (have/has) followed by a special verb form called the supinum (supine).

You will often see this tense paired with time adverbs like redan (already) and precis (just).

Group 1 Verbs: Supinum in -at

For Group 1 verbs, simply add -t to the infinitive. Since the infinitive always ends in -a, the supinum ending is always -at.

  • skicka (to send) → skickat (sent)
  • svara (to answer) → svarat (answered)
  • förklara (to explain) → förklarat (explained)
I have already sent the email.
Jag har redan skickat mejlet.
He has just sent an email to the boss.
Han har precis skickat ett mejl till chefen.
They have already answered my question.
De har redan svarat på min fråga.

Group 2 Verbs: Supinum in -t

For Group 2 verbs, drop the infinitive -a to find the stem, then add -t.

  • beställa (to order) → beställt (ordered)
  • läsa (to read) → läst (read)
  • stänga (to close) → stängt (closed)

Here are examples with Group 2 verbs, using adverbs like nyligen (recently) and ännu (yet). To ask a question, simply invert the subject and har, just like in English:

Have you ordered the package yet?
Har du beställt paketet ännu?
We have recently ordered three new packages.
Vi har nyligen beställt tre nya paket.
We have closed the shop early today.
Vi har stängt butiken tidigt idag.