Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hann skrifar hratt.

Hann translates to He, skrifar is the present tense of the verb skrifa meaning to write, and hratt means fast (or quickly). Thus, the sentence means "He writes fast."

What is the basic sentence structure of "Hann skrifar hratt."?

The sentence follows a simple Subject–Verb–Adverb (S–V–Adv) pattern. Hann is the subject, skrifar is the verb in the present tense, and hratt acts as an adverb describing the manner in which the writing is done.

How is the verb "skrifar" conjugated and how do we know it is in the present tense?

Skrifar is the third person singular form of skrifa. In Icelandic, present tense verbs for he/she/it often end in -ar (among other possible endings), which indicates that the action is taking place in the present. Since hann (he) is the subject, skrifar fits as the correct present tense form.

Why is hratt used in this sentence and does it function as both an adjective and an adverb?

In Icelandic, many adjectives are also used as adverbs without any change in form. Hratt originally means fast when describing a noun, but here it functions as an adverb by modifying the verb skrifar. The context clarifies its role, so no additional changes in form are needed.