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Breakdown of Ef glugginn er opinn, blæs vindurinn inn.
vera
to be
opinn
open
inn
in
glugginn
the window
ef
if
vindurinn
the wind
blása
to blow
Questions & Answers about Ef glugginn er opinn, blæs vindurinn inn.
What does the suffix -inn do in glugginn and vindurinn?
In Icelandic, the definite article is attached as a suffix. -inn on glugginn and vindurinn marks masculine singular definite nominative – literally “the window” and “the wind.”
Why is the adjective opinn in that form?
Opinn is a predicate adjective that agrees with glugginn in gender (masculine), number (singular) and case (nominative). After the verb er (“is”), you still inflect the adjective to match the noun.
Why is the word order in Ef glugginn er opinn S-V-O instead of V-S-O?
In subordinate clauses introduced by ef (“if”), Icelandic uses subject–verb word order (SVO). Only independent main clauses enforce strict verb-second (V2) order.
What is the function of inn after blæs vindurinn? Is it a preposition?
Here inn is an adverb meaning “inside” or “into,” indicating the wind’s direction. It is not a preposition and stands alone without an object.
Why is there a comma before blæs vindurinn inn? Is it always required after an ef-clause?
Icelandic punctuation routinely places a comma between a subordinate clause and the main clause. After Ef glugginn er opinn, you normally put a comma before the result clause blæs vindurinn inn.
Can I add þá (“then”) between the comma and blæs?
Yes. You can say Ef glugginn er opinn, þá blæs vindurinn inn. The þá is optional; omitting it is more casual or neutral.
Could I say Ef gluggi er opinn instead of Ef glugginn er opinn?
Yes—but that makes gluggi indefinite (“a window”). You’d be talking about any window, not a specific one.
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