Breakdown of Han stod vinkande när tåget avgick.
han
he
tåget
the train
när
when
avgå
to depart
stå
to stand
vinka
to wave
Questions & Answers about Han stod vinkande när tåget avgick.
Why does vinkande end in -ande, and what is its role here?
Vinkande is the present participle of the verb att vinka (to wave). In this sentence, it acts as an adverb describing how he stood. In Swedish, you create this form by adding -ande to the verb stem (or -ende for some verbs), which often translates to the English "-ing" form.
Could I say Han var vinkande to mean "He was waving"?
No, this is a common trap for English speakers! Swedish does not use the verb att vara (to be) to form a continuous tense. To express that someone was in the middle of doing something, Swedish often uses a verb of position like stod (stood), satt (sat), or låg (lay) combined with the present participle, exactly as seen in this sentence.
Is it also correct to say Han stod och vinkade?
Yes, absolutely. Using a verb of position plus och (and) plus the past tense verb (stod och vinkade) is actually the most common way to say "he was waving" in spoken Swedish. Using the participle vinkande instead is slightly more descriptive and focuses heavily on the manner of how he stood.
Why use avgick instead of just gick for the train leaving?
The verb att avgå (past tense avgick) specifically means "to depart". It is the standard vocabulary used for scheduled transports like trains, buses, and flights. While tåget gick is understood as "the train left/went", avgick is the precise, natural term for a departure.
Learn Han stod vinkande när tåget avgick 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