Word
Vi måste ta ställning till förslaget.
Meaning
We have to take a position on the proposal.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Vi måste ta ställning till förslaget.
vi
we
måste
to have to, must
förslaget
the suggestion
ta ställning till
to take a position on
Questions & Answers about Vi måste ta ställning till förslaget.
Why do we use till instead of på or om for the English word "on"?
The phrase "to take a position on" or "to take a stand on" is a fixed expression in Swedish: ta ställning till. Prepositions rarely translate directly, and till is the standard preposition used for attitudes, reactions, or relationships to an issue (similar to inställning till, meaning "attitude towards").
Can I use the Swedish word position instead of ställning in this sentence?
No. While position exists in Swedish, it usually refers to a physical location, a military placement, or a rank in sports or a company. When you are talking about forming an opinion or making a decision on an abstract issue, you must use ställning.
Does the word ställning have other common meanings?
Yes, it is a very versatile noun. Besides meaning a stance on an issue, it can refer to a physical posture or position (like a yoga pose), the current score or standings in a sports match, and even "scaffolding" around a building (often as byggställning).
How does ta ställning till differ from just having an opinion, like ha en åsikt om?
Ta ställning till is much more active and formal. While ha en åsikt om just means you hold an opinion, ta ställning till implies that you have actively evaluated an issue, proposal, or conflict and made a firm, often official, decision about where you stand on it.