Questions & Answers about Þessi flík er mjúk og hlý.
Why is there no article like the before flík?
Icelandic doesn’t use a separate word for “the.” Definiteness is shown either by adding a suffix to the noun (e.g. flíkin = “the garment”) or by using a demonstrative like þessi (“this”). Since þessi already makes it definite, you don’t add another “the.”
What is þessi, and why does it look like that?
þessi is a demonstrative adjective meaning “this.” Like other adjectives, it must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Here flík is feminine singular nominative, so þessi appears in its feminine singular nominative form.
Why do the adjectives mjúk and hlý have no endings like -ur or -ar?
Icelandic adjectives have strong and weak declension patterns. Without a preceding weak marker (like a definite suffix), they follow the strong declension. In the strong nominative:
• Masculine singular is mjúkur, hlýr
• Feminine singular drops the masculine ending to give mjúk, hlý
• Neuter singular would be mjúkt, hlýtt
Why are mjúk and hlý both in the nominative case?