Skápurinn er hvítur.

to be

Breakdown of Skápurinn er hvítur.

• hvítur: white
• skápurinn: the closet

Questions & Answers about Skápurinn er hvítur.

What does skápurinn mean, and how is the definite article shown in Icelandic?

Skápurinn means “the cupboard” (or wardrobe). In Icelandic the definite article is not a separate word but is suffixed directly to the noun. Here skápur (cupboard) + -inn (masculine nominative definite singular ending) = skápurinn.

What is er, and what is its infinitive form?

Er is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb vera, which means “to be.” So skápurinn er literally means “the cupboard is.”

Why is the adjective hvítur used instead of a “definite” form like hvíturinn?

When an adjective follows a copular verb such as er, it remains in the indefinite strong form, even if the noun is definite. Therefore hvítur stays in the masculine nominative singular strong form rather than taking a definite ending.

What grammatical case and number are skápurinn and hvítur in?

Both are in the nominative singular. Skápurinn is the subject, and hvítur is a predicative adjective agreeing with it in gender (masculine), number (singular), and case (nominative).