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Questions & Answers about Bíllinn er dökkur.
What does the suffix -inn on bíllinn do?
-inn is the masculine singular definite article attached to the noun. So bíll (car) + -inn = bíllinn (the car).
Why isn’t there a separate word for the in Icelandic?
Icelandic does not use a separate definite-article word. Instead, it attaches the article as a suffix to the noun. The specific ending depends on the noun’s gender, number, and case.
What case is bíllinn in, and why?
Bíllinn is in the nominative singular masculine case. Subjects in Icelandic are always in the nominative.
What is er in bíllinn er dökkur?
Er is the 3rd-person singular present tense of vera (to be), corresponding to English is.
Why does the adjective dökkur end in -ur, and how does it match bíllinn?