Helper Verbs
What are helper verbs?
Helper verbs are verbs that stand together with a main verb to change the meaning of the sentence, like adding intent, a wish, or ability.
In Swedish, the helper verb is conjugated, while the main verb normally stays in the infinitive.
Jag kan prata svenska.I can speak Swedish.
Hon vill resa.She wants to travel.
Vi måste gå.We must go.
Du får komma.You may come.
Helper verb + infinitive
The established Swedish helper verbs are followed by the infinitive without the infinitive marker att.
kan + prata
vill + resa
måste + gå
får + komma
Jag kan prata svenska.(I can speak Swedish.)
Jag kan att prata svenska.
Some verbs can act as helper verb without being an established one. These theoretically need the infinitive marker att: Hon väljer att stanna.(She chooses to stay.). However, some of these are so common that this use is unstable: Jag försöker att förstå.(I am trying to understand.)/Jag försöker förstå.(I am trying to understand.).