Göngutúrinn var góður.

The walk was good.

Breakdown of Göngutúrinn var góður.

• vera: to be
• góður: good
• göngutúrinn: the walk

Questions & Answers about Göngutúrinn var góður.

How do you pronounce Göngutúrinn var góður?

In IPA it’s [ˈkœŋkʏˌtuːrɪn var ˈkouðʏr].
Approximate English‐style: GURNG-oo-TOOR-in var GOH-thur.

• ö is like German ö in schön
• ú is a long oo as in food
  Stress falls on the first syllable of each content word: GÖNGutúrinn, GÓður.

Why is the definite article attached to the end of göngutúr instead of appearing separately?

Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffix on the noun rather than a separate word.

• göngutúr = a walk (indefinite)
• göngutúrinn = the walk (definite, with -inn added)

How do I say a walk (indefinite) in Icelandic?

Drop the -inn suffix.

• göngutúr means a walk.
  For example:
  Ég tók göngutúr í gær means I took a walk yesterday.

What is var, and how does it relate to English was?

var is the past-tense (preterite) form of the verb vera (to be).
So var = was.

What is the difference between vera and verða? I sometimes see var and varð.

They are two distinct verbs:

• vera = to be (past var = was)
• verða = to become, to get (past varð = became)

Why is the adjective góður in that form and not góði or góða?

Adjectives agree in gender, number and case with their noun.

• Here Göngutúrinn is masculine singular nominative.
• As a predicate adjective (after var), it uses the strong nominative masculine singular form góður.
  Weak forms like góði appear only when the adjective is attributive with a definite noun.

What case is used for Göngutúrinn and góður, and why?

They are both in the nominative case (masculine singular) because:

• Göngutúrinn is the subject of var.
• Predicate adjectives always match the subject’s case, gender and number.

What exactly does göngutúr mean compared to ganga?

• ganga is a verb to walk, and also a general noun walk (feminine).
• göngutúr is a compound noun: göngu- (genitive of ganga) + túr (“tour, trip”).
  It emphasizes a recreational stroll or hike.

Can I say Góður göngutúr to mean a good walk? Where does the adjective go?

Yes. With an indefinite noun, the adjective is attributive and comes before:

• Góður göngutúr = a good walk
  Here góður is strong masculine nominative singular, matching göngutúr.

What’s the word order in Göngutúrinn var góður, and how does Icelandic V2 work?

This is Subject–Verb–Predicate (S–V–P):

• Göngutúrinn (S)
• var (V)
• góður (P)
  Icelandic follows a verb-second (V2) rule in main clauses: the finite verb must occupy the second position, regardless of what element comes first.