Byltan var alvarleg.

The fall was serious.

Breakdown of Byltan var alvarleg.

• vera: to be
• alvarlegur: serious
• byltan: the fall

Questions & Answers about Byltan var alvarleg.

Why is it byltan and not bylta?

Because -an is the suffixed definite article. Icelandic usually puts the on the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.

• bylta = a fall / a tumble
• byltan = the fall / the tumble

So byltan is the definite form.

What gender is bylta?

Bylta is a feminine noun.

That matters because Icelandic adjectives often change form to match the noun’s:

• gender
• number
• case

Since byltan is feminine singular here, the adjective also appears in a feminine singular form: alvarleg.

Why is the adjective alvarleg and not alvarlegt or alvarlegur?