Bíllinn er þar.

to be

Breakdown of Bíllinn er þar.

• bíllinn: the car
• þar: there

Questions & Answers about Bíllinn er þar.

Why does bíllinn have two 'l's and then end with -inn?

In Icelandic, the noun bíll (car) already has two 'l's in its root form. When we add the definite article to a singular masculine noun ending in -ll, we typically attach -inn at the end. This causes the whole word to become bíllinn, which translates to the car.

Why is the verb er used here instead of other forms like eru or erum?

The Icelandic verb að vera (to be) conjugates differently depending on person and number. For the third-person singular (he, she, it, or in this case the car), the correct form is er. Other forms include eru (for they, or plural subjects) and erum (for we).

Why not say bíll er þar? When do I use the definite form bíllinn?

In Icelandic, the definite article is not a separate word like it is in English (the); instead, it attaches to the end of the noun. You use bíll (car) if you’re talking about a car in general, but bíllinn (the car) when you’re referring to a specific, known car.

What is the role of þar in the sentence?

Þar means there in Icelandic. In Bíllinn er þar, it indicates the location of the car. Other location words in Icelandic include hér (here) and þarna (over there), but in this sentence, þar is simply pointing out the car’s position.