Breakdown of Hon hämtar paketet åt mottagaren.
hon
she
hämta
to fetch
paketet
the package
åt
for (on behalf of), to
mottagaren
the recipient
Questions & Answers about Hon hämtar paketet åt mottagaren.
Why does this sentence use åt instead of till or för for 'for'?
In Swedish, åt is used when you perform an action on behalf of someone or as a favor to them, like running an errand. Till is generally used for a direct physical transfer or direction (giving something to someone). Since she is doing the work of fetching the package on the recipient's behalf, åt is the correct preposition here.
How would this sentence change if we dropped the preposition åt?
You would use the 'double object' word order. The indirect object (mottagaren) moves to sit directly after the verb, and the direct object (paketet) comes immediately after it. The sentence becomes: Hon hämtar mottagaren paketet. This structure means exactly the same thing as the original sentence!
Could I use tar instead of hämtar here?
Not without changing the meaning. Hämtar specifically means 'fetches' or 'goes to get' something to bring it back. If you used tar, it would just mean she 'takes' the package, completely losing the implication that she went on an errand to retrieve it.
How is the word mottagaren formed?
It is built from the phrasal verb ta emot, which means 'to receive'. Adding the ending makes mottagare ('receiver' or 'recipient'). The -n at the end is the definite suffix, making it 'the recipient'.
Learn Hon hämtar paketet åt mottagaren 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