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Questions & Answers about Maðurinn er hér.
Why do we say Maðurinn instead of maður?
In Icelandic, the definite article (meaning the) is added to the end of the noun, so maður (man) becomes maðurinn (the man). This is a key feature of Icelandic grammar that differs from English, where we use a separate word the.
Where is the word for the in this sentence and why is it not separate?
Icelandic doesn’t use a separate word for the. Instead, it attaches the definite article to the noun itself. So you won’t see a separate the before maður, but rather maðurinn as one word.
How is the letter ð in maðurinn pronounced?
The letter ð is usually pronounced like the soft “th” in English words such as this or that. It’s a voiced sound, meaning your vocal cords vibrate when you make it.
What is the function of er here?
Er is the present tense form of the verb að vera (to be). In this sentence, it’s the equivalent of the English is. So maðurinn er hér literally means the man is here.
Is it important to keep the same word order in Icelandic?
Word order in Icelandic can often be flexible, but the structure subject + verb + adverb/place is very common. Saying Hér er maðurinn is also possible in certain contexts, but Maðurinn er hér is the most straightforward and neutral way to say the man is here.
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