Ég á lítinn tíma.

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Breakdown of Ég á lítinn tíma.

• eiga: to have
• lítill: little
• tími: the time

Questions & Answers about Ég á lítinn tíma.

What is the overall structure of the sentence Ég á lítinn tíma?

The sentence follows a subject–verb–object (SVO) pattern similar to English. Ég is the subject (“I”), á is the verb (“have”), and lítinn tíma is the object (“little time”).

Why is the adjective lítinn used with that particular ending?

In Icelandic, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. Here, tíma is a masculine noun in the accusative singular. Therefore, the adjective takes the strong form ending -inn to match, resulting in lítinn rather than a different form like lítil or lítill.

Why does the noun appear as tíma instead of tími?

Icelandic nouns change form depending on their grammatical case. Tími is the nominative form, but when used as the direct object of the verb (as in this sentence), it takes the accusative form tíma. This -a ending is standard for many masculine nouns in the accusative singular.

What does the verb á mean in this context?

The verb á is the first person singular form of að eiga, which means “to have” or “to own.” So in this sentence, it functions just like the English verb “have,” expressing possession of or being in a state of having little time.

How does the adjective–noun agreement in Icelandic differ from English?

Unlike English, where adjectives remain the same regardless of the noun’s role, Icelandic adjectives change their endings to match the noun’s gender, number, and case. In lítinn tíma, the adjective lítinn reflects that tíma is masculine, singular, and in the accusative case. This level of inflection does not occur in English, which can make Icelandic adjectives seem more complex to English learners.