Questions & Answers about Han verkar spänd idag.
Why do we use the form spänd instead of spänt here?
The adjective describes the subject, Han (an en-word), so we use the basic en-form spänd. Even though it comes after the verb verkar (seems) instead of är (is), verbs of impression still link the adjective back to the subject, so the adjective must agree in gender and number.
Could I say Han ser ut spänd idag to mean the same thing?
Not quite! If you want to use se ut (to look), the adjective has to go between the two parts of the verb: Han ser spänd ut idag. Also, ser ut implies that he visually looks tense, while verkar is a broader "seems" based on his general behavior, tone of voice, or vibe.
What else can the adjective spänd mean?
While here it means mentally "tense" or "anxious", it literally means "tightened" or "stretched". It can describe physical things, like a spänd muskel (tense muscle). In Swedish, it can also mean "excited" or "in suspense" in a positive way, like when you are eagerly waiting for a surprise.
I sometimes mix up verkar and tycker. What is the difference?
Tycker means "to have an opinion". You use it to express your own view, like in Jag tycker att han är spänd (I think that he is tense). Verkar means "seems" or "appears", which describes the impression the subject gives off to the world, without necessarily specifying who is observing him.