Dear blog readers,
I’m so happy to be able to help you learn . I really appreciate all the feedback and the questions I get, without them I wouldn’t know what you want to read about. So thank you for contributing to this blog.
Today I will share with you some of the most common examples of using the preposition “på”. Here we go:
On a surface
First of all we use “på” when we are talking about something that is placed on some sort of surface. This usage of “på” is similar to English. Take a look at a few examples:
Tidningen ligger på bordet.
(The newspaper is on the table.)
Det hänger en tavla på väggen.
(There is a painting on the wall.)
Jag bor på Gotland.
(I live on Gotland.)
Place where everybody is doing the same thing
In this case Swedish “på” is better compared to English “at” than “on”. In Swedish we therefore use “på” when we are talking about a place where everyone is doing the same thing, so when we use “på” the activity or the function of the place is more important than the place itself. There are many situation that this applies to:
- work
Jag jobbar på en fabrik.
(I work at a factory.)
Jag är på kontoret.
(I am at the office.)
Jag är på jobbet.
(I am at work.)
-studies
Jag läste svenska på SFI.
(I studied Swedish at SFI.)
Han gick på KTH.
(He went to/studied at KTH.)
Note that there is an exception to this rule: i skolan. It does happen though that people say “på skolan” in spoken Swedish.
-commercial facilities and public offices
Anna letade julklappar på NK hela dagen.
(Anna were Christmas shopping at NK all day.)
Sedan var hon på banken, på Systembolaget och på Skatteverket.
(Then she were at/went to the bank, Systembolaget and Skatteverket.)
Förra veckan låg Anders på sjukhus.
(Anders was hospitalized last week.)
-public transportation
Alla är tysta på bussen.
(Everyone is quiet when on the bus.)
- parties and entertainment
Det är kul att gå på bio.
(It’s fun to go to the movies.)
Vill du följa med på fest?
(Do you want to come to a party with me?)
På vintern träffas svenskar gärna på kafé.
(Swedes love meet up at a café in the winter time.)
-courses an meetings
Jag ska gå på ett möte så jag kan inte ha telefonen på.
(I’m going to be in a meeting so I can’t have my phone turned on.)
Note that we still say “i affären” (in the store).
- time off
Klockan 10 går alla på kafferast.
(At 10 o’clock everyone takes a coffee break.)
I juli är all personal på semester.
(In July the whole staff is on vacation.)
“På” is also used when expressing negative feelings:
arg på
(angry about/angry with)
förbannad på
(furious about)
galen på
(mad about)
irriterad på
(annoyed with/at)
besviken på
(disappointed at)
trött på
(tired of/sick of)
We also use “på” when talking about what we can do with our five senses:
Lars tittar på TV.
(Lars is watching TV.)
Lyssna på mig!
(Listen to me!)
Kom och lukta på blommorna.
(Come here and smell the flowers.)
Vill du smaka på kakan som jag har bakat?
(Do you want to try/taste the cake I have made?)
Känn på kattens mjuka päls.
(Touch (and feel) what a soft fur this cat has.)
There are of course many many more situations when you should use “på” , but the list above should at least get you started on using it. Good luck and look out for the upcoming post about “i”.
Tags: på
That was really helpful! Now to learn about how to use ‘i’.
One thing to note, på is used for saying ‘jag bor på gotland’ even though gotland is a location and ‘i’ is normally used (jag bor i stockholm, i USA, etc).
I heard this exception is because Gotland is an island and people say “i live in a city” compared to “i live on an island”
Does this exception also apply to island nations? E.g. Jag bor i Island” or “Jag bor på Island”
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It’s correct that you would say “på Gotland” because it is an island (so you are on the surface of the island). Although when it comes to Island (Iceland in English) you should use “i” since it is a country. But, note that it feels kind of “wrong in your mouth” to say “i Island” just because you normally would use “på” for an island, so many people (including myself) say “på Island” every now and then.
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i find the whole “på” thing very annoying! First when learning swedish one hears that “på” basically means “on”, then you begin to learn the rest of the ways “på” is used. But as I am still so bad at Swedish, everything still translates in my head and it is forever sounding like ” I am mad on you” ,” I am on the the office now” etc. And, while my husband is pretty good at english, he still thinks “på” just means “on” and so he is often saying to me in english things like,” I am going on work now”- things like that that just make my skin crawl!
( haha- I suppose I shouldn’t let it get to me, my Swedish is HORRENDOUS ! So I love your blog! ) thanks a million! Keep posting!
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