Word
Det är ett varsamt sätt att arbeta.
Meaning
It is a careful way to work.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Det är ett varsamt sätt att arbeta.
Why doesn't the 'm' in varsamt double, even though the 'a' before it is short?
The base adjective is varsam. In Swedish, we almost never write a double 'm' (or 'n') right before a 't', so the neuter form is simply varsamt. However, when adding an 'a' for the plural or definite form, the 'm' must double to keep that vowel short, becoming varsamma. This spelling pattern applies to all adjectives ending in -sam (such as långsamt becoming långsamma).
What is the difference between varsamt and försiktigt? Both can mean "careful".
Försiktig is the standard word for "careful" in the sense of avoiding danger or mistakes (like looking both ways before crossing a street). Varsam means careful in a gentle, tender, or delicate way—like physically handling a fragile object or dealing with a very sensitive situation without causing harm.
If we changed ett sätt (a way) to an en-word like en metod (a method), would the sentence start with Den är?
No, it would still start with Det är. When you introduce what something is (as in "It is a..."), Swedish always uses the neuter pronoun Det as an introductory word, regardless of the noun's actual gender. For example: Det är en bra metod (It is a good method).
Can I translate "a way of working" directly as ett sätt av arbete?