Bókasafnið er grænt.

The library is green.

Breakdown of Bókasafnið er grænt.

• vera: to be
• bókasafnið: the library
• grænn: green

Questions & Answers about Bókasafnið er grænt.

What does the suffix -ið mean in bókasafnið?

The suffix -ið is the neuter singular definite article in Icelandic. In English you say “the library,” and in Icelandic you mark that definiteness by adding -ið to the base noun bókasafn (“library” in its indefinite form), yielding bókasafnið (“the library”).

What gender is bókasafn, and how can I tell?

Bókasafn is a neuter noun. One clue is that it takes the neuter definite ending -ið (only neuter nouns use -ið in the definite singular). Many Icelandic nouns ending in -n in their base form are neuter, though there are exceptions you’ll learn over time.

What case are bókasafnið and grænt in, and why?

Both are in the nominative case. The nominative marks the subject of the sentence (bókasafnið) and is also used for predicate adjectives after the copular verb er (“is”).

Why does the adjective grænt end in -nt?

Grænt is the strong declension form of the adjective grænn, græn, grænt in the neuter singular nominative. The -nt ending specifically signals “neuter singular nominative” in the strong (indefinite) adjective paradigm.