Log inSign up

Bíllinn er nýr.

Bíllinn er nýr.
The car is new.
FromLesson 4inHardcore Icelandic
…

Breakdown of Bíllinn er nýr.

vera
to be
bíllinn
the car
nýr
new

Questions & Answers about Bíllinn er nýr.

What does Bíllinn mean, and why does it have the suffix -inn?
Bíllinn translates to “the car”. In Icelandic, the definite article is not a separate word placed before the noun like in English but is instead attached as a suffix. The base noun “bíll” (meaning “car”) becomes “bíllinn” when the definite ending -inn is added, indicating “the car”.
What is the role of er in this sentence?
Er is the present tense form of the verb “vera” (to be). It functions as the linking verb in the sentence, connecting the subject “Bíllinn” with the predicate adjective “nýr”. Essentially, it plays the same role as “is” in the English sentence “The car is new.”
Why is the adjective nýr in that specific form?
In Icelandic, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe. Here, “bíllinn” is a masculine noun in the nominative case, so the adjective “nýr” is in the masculine nominative singular form. If the noun were feminine or neuter, the ending of the adjective would change accordingly.
How does the sentence structure of Bíllinn er nýr compare with that of English?

The sentence follows a similar subject-verb-predicate order to English. Bíllinn er nýr can be broken down as: • Bíllinn – the subject (“the car”) • er – the verb (“is”) • nýr – the predicate adjective (“new”) The key difference is that the definite article in Icelandic is attached to the noun rather than being a separate word placed before it, which is common in English.

Can this sentence serve as a pattern for forming other sentences in Icelandic? What should I be mindful of?

Yes, Bíllinn er nýr is a simple declarative sentence that provides a great model for forming other statements. When constructing similar sentences, keep these points in mind: • Definite Article Attachment: Unlike English, Icelandic attaches the definite marker to the end of the noun (e.g., bíll becomes bíllinn). • Adjective Agreement: Make sure adjectives agree with their corresponding nouns in gender, number, and case. For instance, if you change the noun's gender, the adjective ending will also change. • Verb Conjugation: Use the correct form of “vera” (to be) or any other verb according to the subject. By following these rules, you can confidently build sentences using this basic structure.

More from this lesson

ætlаbyrjaVið ætlum að byrja núna.ætlareynaskiljaþettaÉg sé þetta.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Icelandic grammar?”
Icelandic grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Icelandic

Master Icelandic — from Bíllinn er nýr to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Icelandic freeBrowse the full course