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Questions & Answers about Ég kaupi þessi bók í búð.
What does the demonstrative þessi/þessa mean in this sentence, and why is it written as þe[s]si?
The word means this and acts as a demonstrative adjective modifying bók. In Icelandic, demonstratives change their ending to agree with the gender, case, and number of the noun they describe. Because bók is a feminine noun serving as the direct object (thus in the accusative case), the base form þessi is altered to þessa. The bracketed [s] highlights the element that adjusts to fit the noun’s case.
What tense is used for the verb kaupi in this sentence, and how is it formed for the first person singular?
The verb kaupi is in the present tense of kaupa (to buy). In Icelandic, the present tense is used for actions happening now, habitual actions, or near-future plans. Here, kaupi is the first person singular form, matching the subject ég (I) to mean I buy or I am buying.
What case is the noun bók in, and how can you tell?
Bók is in the accusative case because it functions as the direct object of the verb kaupi. Although many feminine nouns in Icelandic have the same form in both the nominative and accusative cases, its role in the sentence clearly indicates that it is an accusative object.
How does the preposition í interact with the noun búð, and what case is involved?
The preposition í means in and, when used to denote location, it requires the noun that follows to be in the dative case. In this sentence, búð (shop/store) is understood to be dative, even though its form remains unchanged from the nominative. This construction tells you that the action is taking place in a store.
What does this sentence reveal about Icelandic word order, particularly regarding the V2 (verb-second) rule?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure that conforms to Icelandic syntax. The subject ég appears first, the verb kaupi occupies the second position—as required by the V2 rule—and the object þessa bók follows. This clear positioning of the verb in the second slot is a characteristic feature of Icelandic main clauses.