Question 1

What part of speech is betur, and why isn’t it betri?

Accepted Answer

Betur is the comparative form of the adverb vel (“well”). Adverbs modify verbs, so to say “sings better” you need betur.  
Betri is the comparative form of the adjective góður (“good”), used to modify nouns (e.g. betri söngvari “a better singer”). You wouldn’t use betri to modify syngur (“sings”).

Question 2

Why is en used here? I thought it meant “and” or “but.”

Accepted Answer

In comparative constructions en means “than.” The structure is:  
Subject + verb + comparative adverb + en + second element.  
So Hún syngur betur en við literally is “She sings better than we [do].” Outside comparisons, en can indeed mean “and” or “but,” but here its role is strictly comparative.

Question 3

Why is við in the nominative case? Shouldn’t it be “us” (okkur)?

Accepted Answer

Because við is the subject of the implied clause við syngjum (“we sing”). After en in Icelandic comparisons, you retain the case the word would have in its own clause. Here that’s the nominative við, not the accusative okkur.

Question 4

Can I drop the subject pronoun Hún and just say Syngur betur en við?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Icelandic often omits the subject pronoun when the verb ending already shows person and number. Syngur betur en við is perfectly grammatical if context makes it clear you’re talking about “she.” Including Hún adds emphasis or clarity.

Question 5

How would I form the question “Does she sing better than we do?”

Accepted Answer

You invert verb and subject (no auxiliary needed):  
Syngur hún betur en við?  
Literally “Sings she better than we?” The verb always appears in second position in main clauses (V2 word order).

Question 6

How do I say “She sings worse than we do”?

Accepted Answer

Use the comparative of illa (“badly”), which is verra.  
Hún syngur verra en við.  
This parallels Hún syngur betur en við but conveys the opposite comparison.

Question 7

What’s the difference between Hún er betri en við and Hún syngur betur en við?

Accepted Answer

Hún er betri en við uses the adjective comparative betri, so it means “She is better than we [are],” typically implying “She is a better singer than we are [singers].”  
Hún syngur betur en við uses the adverb betur, so it focuses on the action: “She sings better than we do.”

Hún syngur betur en við.

Breakdown of Hún syngur betur en við.

Questions & Answers about Hún syngur betur en við.

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