Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Icelandic grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Maðurinn er strangur.
What is the literal translation of Maðurinn er strangur?
The sentence translates literally as "The man is strict." Here, maðurinn means "the man" (with the definite article built into the noun), er means "is," and strangur translates to "strict."
How is the definite article expressed in the noun maðurinn?
In Icelandic, definite articles are added as suffixes to nouns rather than appearing as separate words. In this case, maður (man) takes the suffix -inn to become maðurinn (the man), which is the masculine singular definite form.
Why does the adjective strangur appear in its current form?
Icelandic adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. Since maðurinn is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case, the adjective strangur is also in its masculine singular nominative form. This agreement ensures the proper descriptive relationship between the noun and the adjective.
What role does the verb er play in the sentence?
The verb er is the present singular form of vera (to be) and functions as a linking verb. It connects the subject (maðurinn) with its predicate adjective (strangur), much like the English verb "is."
Is the word order in Maðurinn er strangur typical for Icelandic declarative sentences?
Yes, the word order follows the standard Icelandic structure for simple declarative sentences—Subject (maðurinn) followed by Verb (er) and then Predicate (strangur). This pattern is similar to English simple sentence structure, which can make initial learning a bit more intuitive for English speakers.