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Questions & Answers about Útskýringin er skýr.
What is Útskýringin, and what does the -in ending mean?
Útskýringin is a feminine noun meaning the explanation. The ending -in is the definite article attached to feminine nouns in the nominative singular, so Útskýringin literally means the explanation rather than just an explanation.
What case and number is Útskýringin in?
It is in the nominative singular (definite). As the subject of the sentence, it takes the nominative case, and the -in suffix signals that it is singular and definite.
How would you say an explanation (indefinite) in Icelandic?
You simply drop the definite article suffix and say Útskýring for an explanation. In a sentence you could write Útskýring er skýr for “an explanation is clear.”
Why does the adjective skýr not get an extra ending for feminine?
In the strong (predicate) form, the nominative feminine singular of skýr is identical to its masculine form, namely skýr. Only neuter nouns would trigger the -t ending (e.g. skýrt).
How do adjectives agree with nouns here, and why is skýr in its “bare” form?
After the verb er (“is”), adjectives use the strong inflection and agree in gender, number, and case with the noun. Since Útskýringin is nominative singular feminine, its predicate adjective must also be nominative singular feminine, which for skýr is exactly skýr.
What role does er play in this sentence?
er is the present‐tense, third‐person singular form of vera (“to be”). It functions as a copula linking the subject Útskýringin and the predicate adjective skýr.
How would you say the explanation is very clear?
You insert mjög (“very”) before skýr:
Útskýringin er mjög skýr.
If you wanted to say the clear explanation (with clear attributive), how would you form that phrase?
In attributive position before a definite noun, adjectives take the weak form. So clear explanation (definite) becomes:
skýra útskýringin. Here skýra is the weak (feminine nominative singular) form of skýr.