Breakdown of Jag känner inte pulsen slå.
jag
I
inte
not
slå
to beat / to hit, strike (e.g. play a pass)
känna
to feel (sensation, emotion)
pulsen
the pulse
Questions & Answers about Jag känner inte pulsen slå.
Why is there no att before the verb slå?
Because känna is a verb of perception. When you see, hear, or feel someone or something do an action, Swedish uses the object (pulsen) followed directly by the bare infinitive of the second verb (slå). You drop the att (to), which actually matches English perfectly here: we say 'feel the pulse beat,' not 'feel the pulse to beat.'
Could I say min puls instead of pulsen?
You could, but it sounds less natural. In Swedish, when referring to body parts or bodily functions that clearly belong to the person involved, you normally use the definite form (pulsen) rather than a possessive pronoun (min).
Why is inte placed before pulsen?
In a standard Swedish main clause, sentence adverbs like inte must come right after the first conjugated verb. So it goes directly after känner and before the object pulsen.
Why do we use känner here instead of mår? Both mean 'feel', right?
They do, but they are used differently. Må is only used for your general health or well-being. When you physically touch or sense something with your body, like a heartbeat, you must use känna.
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