Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Icelandic grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Skýin hverfa strax.
Why does skýin end with -in?
Because -in is the definite article suffix for neuter nouns in the nominative plural. The indefinite plural of ský is just ský, and adding -in turns it into “the clouds.”
What case and number is skýin in, and how do I recognize it?
Skýin is nominative plural definite. In Icelandic, the subject of a sentence is in the nominative case, and the suffix -in signals both plural and definiteness for neuter nouns.
How would I say “clouds” without “the,” i.e. in the indefinite plural?
Use ský for the indefinite plural nominative. So “Clouds disappear immediately” becomes:
Ský hverfa strax.
What is the infinitive of hverfa, and why does it look identical here?
The infinitive is að hverfa. Its base form (hverfa) coincides with the third person plural present tense. In Skýin hverfa strax, it’s a conjugated verb matching the plural subject, not the infinitive (which must be preceded by að).
How do I know hverfa is plural present tense, not the infinitive?