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When to use “att” in Swedish language?

When do you use att in Swedish?

Swedish att has two common grammatical uses: it can mark an infinitive, like English “to” in “to eat,” or introduce a clause, like English “that” in “I think that he is hungry.” The construction determines whether you need it.

Use Swedish example English meaning
Infinitive marker Jag tycker om att läsa. I like to read.
Conjunction introducing a clause Jag tror att han är hungrig. I think that he is hungry.
Infinitive after a modal verb: no att Jag vill äta. I want to eat.

Att before an infinitive

An infinitive is the basic form of a verb, such as äta (eat), läsa (read) or vara (be). In many constructions, Swedish puts att before the infinitive: Det är roligt att läsa means “It is fun to read.”

Do not translate every English “to” into att. Swedish and English use different verb constructions.

Why is it Jag vill äta, without att?

After modal verbs such as vill, kan, måste, ska and bör, use the following infinitive without att:

  • Jag vill äta. — I want to eat.
  • Hon kan simma. — She can swim.
  • Vi måste gå. — We must go.
  • Du bör vila. — You should rest.

Jag vill att äta is incorrect. The rule concerns the infinitive after the modal verb.

Att meaning “that”

As a subordinating conjunction, att introduces a clause with its own subject and finite verb:

  • Jag tror att han är hungrig. — I think that he is hungry.
  • Jag vill att du kommer. — I want you to come.

Compare Jag vill äta (“I want to eat”) with Jag vill att du äter (“I want you to eat”). In the second sentence, du äter is a clause, so this att is a conjunction, not an infinitive marker.

Useful verbs and forms

Infinitive or verb Present Past Main meaning here
behöva behöver behövde need
böra bör borde should
börja börjar började begin
bruka brukar brukade usually do
få får fick be allowed to
hinna hinner hann have time to
kunna kan kunde can / be able to
måste måste måste must / have to
ska ska skulle will / would
sluta slutar slutade stop
vilja vill ville want

These verbs do not all follow one identical rule. With verbs such as börja and sluta, att can be optional: Hon börjar läsa and Hon börjar att läsa are both possible. Learn each verb together with its construction.

For more forms and translations, use our Swedish verb tables.

Try it yourself

Choose whether to add att: (1) Jag kan ___ tala svenska. (2) Det är bra ___ öva. (3) Jag tror ___ hon kommer.

Answers: (1) no att: Jag kan tala svenska. (2) att before the infinitive: Det är bra att öva. (3) att introducing a clause: Jag tror att hon kommer.

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