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Questions & Answers about Kennarinn biður um svarið.
Why does Kennarinn end with -inn?
-inn is the definite article suffix for masculine nouns in the nominative singular. The basic word kennari means “teacher,” and adding -inn makes it “the teacher.”
What case is svarið, and why is it svarið instead of svar?
Svar is a neuter noun whose nominative and accusative singular look the same. To make it definite you add -ið, yielding svarið (“the answer”). Here svarið is in the accusative case because it’s the object of the preposition um.
Why is the preposition um used after biður, and what case does it govern?
The Icelandic verb biðja (“to ask/request”) typically takes the structure biðja einhvern um eitthvað (“ask someone for something”). The preposition um marks the thing being asked for and requires the accusative case.
What’s the difference between biðja um and spyrja when “asking” something?
Biðja um means “to ask for” or “request” something (e.g. biðja um pening – “ask for money”). Spyrja means “to ask a question,” i.e. “inquire,” and takes a direct object without um (e.g. spyrja spurningar – “ask questions”).
Why is there a double nn in Kennarinn, and does it affect pronunciation?
When a suffix beginning with n attaches to a stem ending in n, you get nn. Icelandic geminates (lengthens) that consonant, so you hold the /n/ sound slightly longer than a single /n/.
How do you pronounce the letter ð in svarið?
The letter ð (eth) represents a voiced dental fricative, like the English th in “this.” At the end of a word it often devoices to [θ], similar to th in “thin,” so svarið sounds roughly like “svarith.”
How would you say “A teacher asks for an answer” (indefinite) in Icelandic?
Drop the definite suffixes: Kennari biður um svar.
How do you include the person being asked, for example “The teacher asks the student for the answer”?
Put the person in the accusative and keep um + accusative for the thing: Kennarinn biður nemandann um svarið.