Word
Hann notar tölvu.
Meaning
He uses a computer.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
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Questions & Answers about Hann notar tölvu.
What does Hann represent here?
Hann is the third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning he. It’s used for male humans or any masculine noun if you were referring back to it.
What is the infinitive behind notar and how do you conjugate it in the present tense?
The infinitive is að nota (“to use”). In the present tense you add endings to the stem nota-:
- Ég nota
- Þú notar
- Hann/Hún/Það notar
- Við notum
- Þið notið
- Þeir/Þær/Þau nota
Here notar is simply the 3rd person singular present with the -ar ending.
Why is the object tölvu and not tölva?
Icelandic marks direct objects with the accusative case. Tölva is a feminine -a-stem noun; in the accusative singular the ending changes -a → ‑u, giving tölvu.
Why isn’t there an article before tölvu?
Icelandic doesn’t use a separate indefinite article (like “a” or “an”). You just say the noun in its base (uncertain) form to mean “a computer.” If you want “the computer,” you add a suffix to make it definite.