Questions & Answers about Du får inte sova här.
I thought får usually means to get or to receive. Why does it mean may here?
You are right that as a normal standalone verb, får means to get or to receive. But when it is used as a modal helper verb alongside another action like sova, it means may or to be allowed to.
Why is inte placed between får and sova?
In a standard Swedish sentence, the word inte (not) comes directly after the first, conjugated verb. Here, that first verb is får. The second verb, sova, must wait its turn and goes after inte.
Why is the verb sova used here instead of the present tense sover?
Because of the modal verb! When you use a modal verb like får (may), the verb that follows it must be in its basic dictionary form, called the infinitive. That is why we use sova instead of sover.
Learn Du får inte sova här and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free