Present tense

"Present" is a name for the tense used to describe actions or show states, which are happening or are now.

Verbs in the present tense:

Kalle runs home.

The cat eats the food.
Oskar waters the flowers.
She is kind.
We are at home if you look for us.

Additional info:
The present tense is also used to denote that something "usually happens": Example: Water boils at 100 degrees.
You can also use the present tense to indicate that something will happen in the future: Example: Tomorrow I will travel
to Spain.

Exercise task

Write down sentences and use different verbs that are in the present tense.

Imperfect or past tense

This tense used to be called imperfect in Swedish but is now called preterit .

Completed action in past tense:

I cleaned the attic last week and was quickly done.

The verb "cleaned" expresses a completed action in the past and is in the past tense.

Completed state in past tense:

Olle was sad last Saturday but quickly became happy again.

The verb "was" expresses a completed state in the past and is in the past tense.

"Preterit" is a name for the tense used to describe that actions or conditions happened or were in the past.

The verb in the past tense is often followed by a word that describes when or where it happened.

Verbs in the past tense:

He rode the bus yesterday.

I painted the house last summer.
Berit quickly became happy.
Stina played the piano often last summer.
Kalle picked up Olle yesterday.
Ulla walked all the way to the beach last Monday.

Additional info:
You can also use the past tense to indicate that something used to happen in the past: Example: The monks in the
monasteries wrote books by hand.
Sometimes the past tense is used instead of the present tense. Especially for expressing feelings. Example: It was nice of
you to meet me! These were beautiful paintings!

Exercise task

Write down sentences and use different verbs that are in the past tense.