Swedish "inte" At The Beginning?

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detbarn Tuesday 14th of February 2006 03:33:23 PM
"inte" at the beginning? - Is it possible to place "inte" at the beginning of the sentence, like in "Inte kan jag gå."? Or is it only possible in a question like "Inte kan du göra något?"?

Rikard Tuesday 14th of February 2006 07:44:27 PM
- As you say this is mostly used in questions.

However people up north sometimes say things like "inte kan jag gå inte". That is, a double useage of the word "inte". Only at the beginning i don't think is used. But i could be wrong :)

topi Wednesday 15th of February 2006 05:18:15 PM
- it is sometimes possible to put "inte" up front for emphasis, as in "Inte vet jag." I'm not a native speaker but I think this is quite a strong negation, not too far from something like "How should I know."

jolin Wednesday 15th of February 2006 07:28:02 PM
- "Inte" in beginning of sentences is a special one, which makes the negation very marked. I think it is more common in northern Sweden.

Compare:
Den passade inte = It didn't fit.
Inte passade den = It didn't fit , meaning "I had no reason to expect it would fit, and it didn't"

Single "inte" may be a reply:

Tror du det blir snö? = Do you think it will snow?
Inte = No way. (alternative, "inte då" with stress on inte).

More examples:

Inte gör jag det = No way I would do that
Inte kan han skriva = No way he knows how to write
Inte dumt = Not bad

When the verb is removed, an incomplete sentence sometimes may start with "inte"

Ska jag gå nu? = Shall I leave now?
Inte nu = Not now (full sentence is "gå inte nu" = don't leave now)

As Rikard said, another "inte" may be appended, as in the examples above

inte passade den, inte
inte gör jag det, inte
inte nu, inte

detbarn Saturday 18th of February 2006 12:00:52 AM
- Is it possible to place another adverb before "inte" in a question?

"Varför inte kan jag ha det?" ("Why can't I have that?")
"Om det inte regnar idag, inte kan jag gå?" ("If it doesn't rain today, can't I go?")

Rikard Saturday 18th of February 2006 02:42:43 AM
- No.

:)

But you can have prepositions such as "men" or "för" but that would most often be used in questions or just as enhancer word as already said above.

"men inte såg jag någon räddning"

Phrasebase Archive
	detbarn	Tuesday 14th of February 2006 03:33:23 PM
	"inte" at the beginning? - Is it possible to place "inte" at the beginning of the sentence, like in "Inte kan jag gå."? Or is it only possible in a question like "Inte kan du göra något?"?
	Rikard	Tuesday 14th of February 2006 07:44:27 PM
	- As you say this is mostly used in questions. However people up north sometimes say things like "inte kan jag gå inte". That is, a double useage of the word "inte". Only at the beginning i don't think is used. But i could be wrong :)
	topi	Wednesday 15th of February 2006 05:18:15 PM
	- it is sometimes possible to put "inte" up front for emphasis, as in "Inte vet jag." I'm not a native speaker but I think this is quite a strong negation, not too far from something like "How should I know."
	jolin	Wednesday 15th of February 2006 07:28:02 PM
	- "Inte" in beginning of sentences is a special one, which makes the negation very marked. I think it is more common in northern Sweden. Compare: Den passade inte = It didn't fit. Inte passade den = It didn't fit , meaning "I had no reason to expect it would fit, and it didn't" Single "inte" may be a reply: Tror du det blir snö? = Do you think it will snow? Inte = No way. (alternative, "inte då" with stress on inte). More examples: Inte gör jag det = No way I would do that Inte kan han skriva = No way he knows how to write Inte dumt = Not bad When the verb is removed, an incomplete sentence sometimes may start with "inte" Ska jag gå nu? = Shall I leave now? Inte nu = Not now (full sentence is "gå inte nu" = don't leave now) As Rikard said, another "inte" may be appended, as in the examples above inte passade den, inte inte gör jag det, inte inte nu, inte
	detbarn	Saturday 18th of February 2006 12:00:52 AM
	- Is it possible to place another adverb before "inte" in a question? "Varför inte kan jag ha det?" ("Why can't I have that?") "Om det inte regnar idag, inte kan jag gå?" ("If it doesn't rain today, can't I go?")
	Rikard	Saturday 18th of February 2006 02:42:43 AM
	- No. :) But you can have prepositions such as "men" or "för" but that would most often be used in questions or just as enhancer word as already said above. "men inte såg jag någon räddning"