Breakdown of Verðið á bensíni hækkar í dag.
á
on
í dag
today
verðið
the price
bensínið
the gasoline
hækka
to rise
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Questions & Answers about Verðið á bensíni hækkar í dag.
What does verðið mean, and why does it end with -ið?
Verðið is the definite form of the neuter noun verð, meaning “price.” In Icelandic, the definite article is attached to the noun as a suffix. So verð + -ið = verðið (“the price”).
Why is á used before bensíni, and what case is bensíni in?
The preposition á here introduces the thing whose price is being discussed. In the phrase verð á X, it idiomatically means “price of X.” After á, the noun takes the dative case. The neuter noun bensín becomes bensíni in the dative singular.
Could we use the genitive bensíns instead of á bensíni to say “price of gasoline”?
While verð bensíns (using the genitive) is grammatically correct, Icelandic speakers typically say verð á bensíni. That construction is more idiomatic.
What is hækkar, and why is it conjugated that way?
Hækkar is the present tense, third person singular form of the verb að hækka, which means “to increase” or “to rise.” So hækkar here means “it rises” or “it increases.”
Why is í dag used to express “today” instead of another form of dagur?
Í dag (literally “in day”) is the standard adverbial phrase for “today.” You don’t inflect dagur in this expression; í dag is always two separate words.
Can the word order be changed to Í dag hækkar verðið á bensíni?
Yes. Icelandic follows the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position. If you front the time adverbial, you get Í dag hækkar verðið á bensíni with the same meaning.
Is there any nuance between í dag and a phrase like daginn í dag?
Daginn í dag (“the day today”) is more emphatic or poetic, often used to contrast today with other days. For a straightforward statement, learners should use the simple í dag.
Why isn’t there a separate word for “the” before verðið?
Icelandic doesn’t use a separate definite article. Instead, definiteness is marked by a suffix on the noun itself (–inn, –ið, –in). Here, verð + -ið signals “the price.”