Breakdown of Det går att justera ryggstödet bakåt.
det går att
it is possible to
justera
to adjust
ryggstödet
the backrest
bakåt
backward
Questions & Answers about Det går att justera ryggstödet bakåt.
Why is bakåt used here instead of just bak or bakom?
The suffix -åt shows a general direction of movement, meaning 'backwards'. If you used bak, it would refer to a static location ('in the back'), and bakom means 'behind' something. Since adjusting the seat involves a directional trajectory, bakåt is required.
Why does the sentence say Det går att justera instead of Det är möjligt att justera?
Det går att (literally 'it goes to') is the most natural, everyday way to say 'it is possible to' or 'it can be done' in Swedish. While Det är möjligt is grammatically correct, it sounds much more formal. For practical possibilities like adjusting a seat, Det går att is the best choice.
Could I change the word order and say Det går att justera bakåt ryggstödet?
No, Swedish likes to keep the verb (justera) and its direct object (ryggstödet) closely tied together here. Directional adverbs like bakåt naturally go at the end of the clause when describing the trajectory of the action.
How does the compound word ryggstödet break down?
It is made up of rygg (back) and stöd (support). Because stöd is an ett-word, it takes the definite suffix -et to mean 'the backrest'.
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