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Questions & Answers about Hafið er kalt.
What does hafið mean and why does it have the suffix -ið?
hafið is the definite form of the neuter noun haf, meaning the sea. In Icelandic, the definite article is not a separate word but a suffix attached to the noun. For neuter singular nouns like haf, the suffix is -ið (so haf + -ið = hafið).
What case, gender and number is hafið in, and how do I know?
hafið is nominative singular neuter.
- It’s the subject of the sentence, so it takes the nominative case.
- haf is a neuter noun, and the -ið ending marks it as definite, singular, and neuter.
What is er in this sentence and how is it used?
er is the third-person singular present tense of the verb vera (to be). You need this copula to link subject and adjective, just as in English:
Hafið er kalt. (“The sea is cold.”)
Why is the adjective kalt used here instead of kaldur?