Questions & Answers about Hon duschade och packade väskan.
How is the past tense formed for the verbs duschade and packade?
Both of these are regular "Group 1" verbs. In Swedish, Group 1 verbs always end in -a in their basic (infinitive) form: att duscha (to shower) and att packa (to pack). To make them past tense (preteritum), you simply add -de to the basic form, creating the -ade ending you see here.
Is the -ade ending pronounced exactly as it is spelled?
In formal or careful speech, yes. However, in everyday spoken Swedish, the -de part is very frequently dropped! People will usually just say "Hon duscha och packa väskan". Even though it sounds exactly like the basic infinitive form, native speakers easily understand it is past tense from the context of the conversation.
Why does the sentence use väskan (the bag) instead of saying "her bag"?
In English, it is very common to use possessive words with personal items, like "she packed her bag". Swedish, however, often just uses the definite form (väskan) when it is obvious from the context who the owner is. Since she is the one doing the packing, it is naturally assumed to be her own bag.
Do I need to repeat the subject (hon) before the second verb?