Time adverbs (imorgon, igår)

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Time adverbs allow you to state exactly when an action happens. You can place adverbs like igår (yesterday) at the end of a sentence.

The newspaper is from yesterday.
Tidningen är från igår.

If you want to emphasize when something happens by starting your sentence with an adverb like idag (today) or imorgon (tomorrow), Swedish requires the verb to come directly after the adverb, before the subject. This is known as the V2 (verb-second) rule.

Today we rest, and tomorrow we work.
Idag vilar vi, och imorgon jobbar vi.

Sequencing Actions

To explain the order of events, use först (first) and sedan (then). Just like with time adverbs, if a clause begins with först or sedan, the verb must immediately follow it.

First I clean the room, and then I rest.
Först städar jag rummet, och sedan vilar jag.
First we will read, and then we will sleep.
Först ska vi läsa, och sedan ska vi sova.

Frequency Adverbs

Words like aldrig (never) and sällan (rarely) describe how often an action happens. In a standard main clause, these adverbs usually go directly after the verb.

I never listen to the radio.
Jag lyssnar aldrig på radion.
She rarely drinks the coffee.
Hon dricker sällan kaffet.

The word ibland (sometimes) frequently starts a sentence. Remember to apply the V2 rule and place the verb before the subject!

Sometimes he cycles to the school.
Ibland cyklar han till skolan.

Earlier, Later, and Before

To describe relative time, you can use tidigare (earlier) and senare (later). These adverbs often sit at the end of the sentence.

The woman comes earlier today.
Kvinnan kommer tidigare idag.
The boy goes home later.
Pojken går hem senare.

When you want to say that one action happens before another, use innan (before) to connect two complete actions. Because it is a conjunction, both sides of innan will have their own subject and verb.

I rest before I work.
Jag vilar innan jag jobbar.