Questions & Answers about Tyget är mjukt och följsamt.
Why isn't the m doubled in följsamt if the vowel before it is short?
In Swedish, an m or n is almost never doubled when it comes directly before a t. The base adjective is följsam. To make it neuter, we just add a t to get följsamt. But watch out: when you need the plural form (adding an -a), the m does double because it sits between two vowels, making it följsamma.
Why do both mjukt and följsamt get a -t at the end?
They are both describing tyget (the fabric). Because tyg is an ett word, any adjective describing it must take the neuter -t ending to match. Therefore, mjuk (soft) becomes mjukt, and följsam (supple) becomes följsamt.
What is the base form of följsamt, and how is it built?
The base adjective is följsam. It is built from the verb att följa (to follow) plus the suffix -sam. This suffix works just like the English "-some" in "troublesome," meaning "tending to" or "having the quality of." So a material that is följsam literally "tends to follow" your shape or movements, which translates well to "supple" or "pliant."
How can you tell if is an word or an word just from looking at this sentence?