Meaning
To decide one's position on an issue.
Cultural Background
The 'Remiss' system in Sweden is a unique democratic process where the government sends proposals to various organizations to 'ta ställning till' before they become law. Swedish 'neutrality' (neutralitet) is a historical concept where the nation refused to 'ta ställning' in international conflicts like the World Wars. In Swedish workplaces, consensus is key. A manager will often ask the whole team to 'ta ställning' to a change to ensure everyone feels involved. The term 'åsiktskorridor' (opinion corridor) refers to the social pressure in Sweden to 'ta ställning' in a way that aligns with general social values.
The 'Till' Rule
If you remember nothing else, remember the 'till'. It is the most common error for non-native speakers.
Don't be too dramatic
Using this for choosing a movie to watch will make you sound like a robot or a very intense politician.
Meaning
To decide one's position on an issue.
The 'Till' Rule
If you remember nothing else, remember the 'till'. It is the most common error for non-native speakers.
Don't be too dramatic
Using this for choosing a movie to watch will make you sound like a robot or a very intense politician.
Use in Exams
Using this phrase in the TISUS or SFI exams will instantly boost your 'formal vocabulary' score.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Vi måste ta ställning ____ det nya förslaget.
The expression 'ta ställning' always takes the preposition 'till' when referring to the object of the decision.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a formal context?
Choose the best sentence:
This is a perfect formal use. The others are either too trivial, use the wrong verb, or include an unnecessary article.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
A: Har ni bestämt er om budgeten? B: Nej, vi har inte ________ än.
Since 'budgeten' is an en-word, we use 'den'. We need the supine form 'tagit' after 'har'.
Match the sentence to the most likely situation.
Sentence: 'Vi måste ta ställning mot rasism.'
Taking a stand against a social issue like racism is a classic use of the phrase in a political or social context.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVi måste ta ställning ____ det nya förslaget.
The expression 'ta ställning' always takes the preposition 'till' when referring to the object of the decision.
Choose the best sentence:
This is a perfect formal use. The others are either too trivial, use the wrong verb, or include an unnecessary article.
A: Har ni bestämt er om budgeten? B: Nej, vi har inte ________ än.
Since 'budgeten' is an en-word, we use 'den'. We need the supine form 'tagit' after 'har'.
Sentence: 'Vi måste ta ställning mot rasism.'
Taking a stand against a social issue like racism is a classic use of the phrase in a political or social context.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's almost always used without the article: 'ta ställning'.
It's a type of deciding, but specifically one that involves choosing a position or stance on an issue.
You can 'ta ställning till' a person's behavior or a person's application, but you don't usually 'ta ställning till' a person themselves.
The opposite is 'att vara neutral' or 'att inte ta ställning'.
Yes, very frequently when discussing proposals, contracts, or strategies.
You say 'Jag har inte tagit ställning än'.
No, it sounds thoughtful and professional.
Yes: 'Vi tog ställning till det förra veckan.'
It is one of the most common phrases in Swedish news reporting.
'Tycka' is just having an opinion. 'Ta ställning till' is the process of reaching that opinion and committing to it.
Related Phrases
ta parti för
similarTo take someone's side
bestämma sig
synonymTo decide
sväva på målet
contrastTo be vague or avoid taking a stand
inta en hållning
specialized formTo adopt an attitude/stance
