Breakdown of Hon tvättar en smutsig tröja.
hon
she
en
a, an (common)
tvätta
to wash
tröjan
the sweater
smutsig
dirty
Questions & Answers about Hon tvättar en smutsig tröja.
Why does the adjective not have a -t at the end (like smutsigt)?
Because tröja (sweater) is an en-word, which you can tell from the article en. When describing a singular en-word, the adjective stays in its base form (smutsig). If she were washing an ett-word, like ett fönster (a window), you would add a -t: ett smutsigt fönster.
Do I pronounce the 'g' at the end of smutsig?
Usually, no. In everyday spoken Swedish, the g at the end of adjectives ending in -ig is silent. So smutsig is typically pronounced like "smutsi".
Does hon tvättar mean "she washes" or "she is washing"?
It means both! Swedish doesn't have a separate continuous tense (the "-ing" form). Depending on the context, hon tvättar can mean she washes sweaters as a habit, or she is washing one right this moment.
Is tröja only used for thick winter sweaters?
No, tröja is a very versatile word for most casual tops pulled over the head, including sweaters, sweatshirts, and long-sleeve tops. (A T-shirt is even called a t-tröja!). However, a formal button-up shirt is a different word: skjorta.
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