Yes/No questions

Asking Yes/No Questions

To ask a question that can be answered with "yes" or "no" in Swedish, you simply swap the subject and the verb. By moving the verb to the very front of the sentence, your statement instantly becomes a question.

Is the school good?
Är skolan bra?

Answering with Yes and No

To answer these questions, you will start your sentence with ja (yes) or nej (no).

Yes, the school is big.
Ja, skolan är stor.

Remember that when you answer with a negative, the word inte (not) follows the verb, just as it does in a normal statement.

No, we do not dance.
Nej, vi dansar inte.

No "Do" or "Does"

In English, we frequently use helping verbs like "do", "does", or "are" to ask questions (for example, "Do you dance?" or "Are you washing the car?"). Swedish does not use these helping verbs.

Instead, you always form the question by putting the main verb first. "Are you washing the car?" translates directly as "Wash you the car?".

Do you dance outside?
Dansar ni ute?
Are you washing the car?
Tvättar du bilen?

Adding "Also" or "Always"

If you want to include extra details—like asking if someone is också (also) doing something, or alltid (always) doing something—this descriptive word comes immediately after the subject in your question.

Is the dog also outside?
Är hunden också ute?
Does he also play football?
Spelar han också fotboll?