Stuðningsþjónustan svarar fljótt.

Because Icelandic makes very frequent use of compound nouns.

• stuðnings- = support as the first part of a compound
• þjónusta = service

So stuðningsþjónusta is literally support-service, i.e. support service.

A useful rule: in Icelandic compounds, the last part is the main noun. That means þjónusta determines the word’s gender and how it inflects.

In Icelandic, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.

• þjónusta = service
• þjónustan = the service

So:

• stuðningsþjónusta = support service
• stuðningsþjónustan = the support service

This is very normal in Icelandic.

Here, -an shows that the noun is definite singular: the support service.

The base noun is þjónusta, which is a feminine noun. Many feminine nouns ending in -a form the nominative singular definite like this:

• saga → sagan
• kona → konan
• þjónusta → þjónustan

So Stuðningsþjónustan is the nominative singular definite form.

svarar is the present tense, 3rd person singular form of the verb svara.

So it matches the singular subject Stuðningsþjónustan.

A quick comparison:

• ég svara = I answer
• þú svarar = you answer
• hann/hún/það svarar = he/she/it answers

Here the subject is a singular thing, so svarar is the correct form.

Because svara can be used on its own to mean answer / reply / respond.

So Stuðningsþjónustan svarar fljótt can naturally mean that the support service responds quickly, without saying exactly whom or what it answers.

Also, when svara does take an object, it usually takes the dative, which is something English speakers often have to get used to.

For example:

• Hún svarar viðskiptavininum. = She answers the customer.
• Hann svarar tölvupóstinum fljótt. = He answers the email quickly.

So the missing object here is not a problem at all.

Because fljótt is functioning as an adverb, not an adjective.

It describes how the support service answers, so it modifies the verb svarar:

• svarar fljótt = answers quickly

Compare:

• fljótur = quick / fast as an adjective
• fljótt = quickly / fast as an adverb

So:

• fljót þjónusta = fast service
• Þjónustan svarar fljótt. = The service answers quickly.

It can mean both, depending on context.

• quickly = with speed
• soon = after a short time

In this sentence, quickly is the most natural meaning, because it describes how the support service responds.

So learners should remember that fljótt is a flexible word, and the context tells you whether it is about speed or time.

This is the normal word order for a simple Icelandic main clause:

• subject
  • finite verb
    • adverb

So:

• Stuðningsþjónustan = subject
• svarar = finite verb
• fljótt = adverb

Also, Icelandic is a verb-second language in main clauses. That means the finite verb tends to come early, usually in the second position.

Since the subject comes first here, the verb naturally comes right after it.

These two letters are very important in Icelandic:

• þ is like th in thing
• ð is like th in this

So in this sentence:

• Stuðnings- contains ð
• þjónustan begins with þ

Another useful tip: Icelandic words are usually stressed on the first syllable, so the stress starts at the beginning of Stuðningsþjónustan.