Questions & Answers about Han lärde sig aldrig att skjuta.
Why is the reflexive pronoun sig used here instead of just lärde?
In Swedish, the verb lära on its own means to teach. To say to learn, you must use the reflexive form lära sig (literally to teach oneself). Since the subject is han, the correct reflexive pronoun to match it is sig.
Why does aldrig come after sig? Couldn't we say han lärde aldrig sig?
In a standard main clause, short object pronouns and reflexive pronouns like sig almost always come before sentence adverbs like aldrig or inte. Therefore, han lärde sig aldrig is the natural word order, whereas putting aldrig first sounds clunky.
Is the infinitive marker att mandatory before skjuta?
Yes. Because lära sig is a regular verb and not an auxiliary (helper) verb like kan or ska, it requires the infinitive marker att to connect to the next verb. This works just like the word to in English.
How is the skj in skjuta pronounced?
The spelling skj is one of the ways to write the famous Swedish sj-sound. It is the exact same consonant sound you hear at the beginning of words like sju (seven) or sjuk (sick), which is often pronounced deep in the throat or like a thick sh depending on the regional accent.
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