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Questions & Answers about Allur maturinn er góður.
What is the function of the suffix -inn in maturinn?
In Icelandic, definiteness is marked by adding a suffix to the noun. matur is “food” (indefinite). Adding -inn gives maturinn, meaning “the food.”
Why are there two markers of definiteness in allur maturinn – allur and -inn? Aren’t they redundant?
allur is a quantifier meaning “all,” while the suffix -inn marks definiteness (“the”). Quantifier and definite article serve different roles. Without -inn, allur matur er góður would mean “all food is good” in general (indefinite).
How do we know allur ends with -ur here, not -i or -t?
Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. maturinn is masculine singular nominative, so allur takes its masculine nominative singular form. The feminine form would be öll, the neuter allt.
Why is the adjective góður not in weak form góði, given that maturinn is definite?
When an adjective is used predicatively (after a form of vera, like er), it always uses the strong declension. góður is the strong nominative masculine singular form, so we keep góður.
What case is the phrase allur maturinn in, and how can I tell?
It’s in the nominative case, because it functions as the subject of the sentence. You can tell by the singular endings and by the fact that the verb agrees with a singular subject.
Could we say allur matur er góður without -inn, and what changes if we do that?
Yes. allur matur er góður means “all food is good” in a general, indefinite sense. Adding -inn (allur maturinn er góður) makes it specific: “all the food is good.”
Why is the adjective góður placed after er, instead of before maturinn?
Here góður is used predicatively, linked by the copula er (“is”). Predicative adjectives follow the verb. If you wanted an attributive adjective, you’d place it before the noun, e.g. góður maturinn (“the good food”).
Why is the verb form er (singular) used instead of eru (plural)?
Because the subject allur maturinn is grammatically singular (masculine singular), the verb must agree in number and use the singular form er.