Breakdown of Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.
Questions & Answers about Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.
What does the suffix -inn do in læknirinn?
It’s the definite article “the” attached to the noun. In Icelandic you don’t put a separate word for “the” – instead you add a suffix.
- læknir = “doctor” (indefinite)
- læknirinn = “the doctor” (definite)
How can I say “a doctor works at a hospital” (indefinite) in Icelandic?
Icelandic has no separate indefinite article. You simply leave the noun bare:
Læknir vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.
Why is sjúkrahúsi in the dative case?
When do I use á + dative versus á + accusative with á?
- á + dative = location (where something is stationary):
“Hann vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.” (“He works at the hospital.”) - á + accusative = motion toward (where something is going):
“Hann fer á sjúkrahús.” (“He goes to the hospital.”)
What does vinnur mean and how is it formed?
Vinur is the 3rd person singular present of að vinna, which here means “to work.”
Formation: take the present stem vinn- and add -ur → vinnur (“he/she works”).
Why do we use á instead of í to say “at a hospital”?
Different Icelandic prepositions pair with different types of locations:
- á is used with institutions and public places (hospitals, schools, hotels): á sjúkrahúsi, á skólann
- í is used for being inside a physical space (rooms, boxes): í stofunni (“in the living room”)
How is the word order determined? Why is vinnur in the second position?
How do I pronounce Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi?
Approximate guide:
• Læknirinn = [ˈlaiːknɪrɪn], “LIE-k-ni-rin”
• vinnur = [ˈvɪnːʏr], “VIN-noor” (the y like German ü)
• á = [auː], “ow” in cow
• sjúkrahúsi = [ˈʃjʏːkrahúsi], “SHYU-kra-hoo-see”
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