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Questions & Answers about Liðið er sterkt.
What is the role of liðið in this sentence and how is it formed?
liðið is the definite nominative singular of the neuter noun lið (meaning “team”). In Icelandic, the definite article for neuter nouns—-ið—is suffixed to the noun stem: lið + -ið = liðið.
How can I tell that lið is neuter?
One clue is the form of its definite article: neuter nouns take -ið, while masculine take -inn and feminine -in (or -n). You can also check a dictionary entry, which will list the gender as n. for neuter.
Why is the adjective sterkt and not sterka or sterkur?
Adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with their noun. The base adjective is sterkur (“strong”). In the strong declension pattern, the neuter nominative singular form is sterkt, which matches liðið (neuter nom. sg.).
Why do we use the strong form sterkt here, even though liðið has a definite article?
Predicative adjectives (those following the verb vera, “to be”) always take the strong declension, regardless of whether the noun is definite (with a suffixed article). The weak forms only appear when the adjective is attributive before a definite noun (e.g. sterka liðið, “the strong team”).
How do I say “a strong team” and “the strong team” as attributive phrases?
- A strong team (indefinite attributive): sterkt lið (strong + team).
- The strong team (definite attributive): sterka liðið (weak adjective sterka
- team-article).
How would I form the plural and say “the teams are strong”?
- Plural of lið is lið (identical stem) with the definite suffix -in → liðin (“the teams”).
- Neuter plural nominative strong form of sterkur is sterk.
- So: Liðin eru sterk.
How can I say “this team is strong”?
Use the neuter demonstrative þetta: Þetta lið er sterkt.
What is the word order in Liðið er sterkt? Can I place sterkt before liðið?
This is a copular clause with Subject-Verb-Predicate Adjective: Subject (liðið) + Verb (er) + Adjective (sterkt). You cannot move sterkt before liðið in this structure; that placement would make it an attributive adjective and require a different declension (weak form before a noun).
How do I pronounce the letter ð in liðið, and where is the stress?
- ð is a voiced dental fricative, like the th in English “this.”
- Icelandic stress almost always falls on the first syllable: LI-ðið er STERKT.