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Questions & Answers about Hann hreinsar borðið.
What does the ending -ið in borðið mean?
It’s the suffixed definite article, meaning the. Icelandic attaches the article to the noun:
- borð = table / a table (indefinite)
- borðið = the table (definite, singular, neuter) For the definite plural: borðin = the tables.
What case is borðið in, and why?
Accusative. Borðið is the direct object of the verb hreinsar (cleans), and hreinsa governs the accusative. For neuter nouns like borð, nominative and accusative look the same; the -ið just marks definiteness.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence?
- Hann: roughly “han” with a long n [hanː]. The double n means a longer n and a short preceding vowel.
- hreinsar: “hr” is a voiceless r (not an English h + r), and ei sounds like the vowel in “say”: [r̥ei̯n-sar].
- borðið: first syllable like “bor” with a short o [bɔr-], ð is the voiced th in “this,” and the ending is “-ið”: [bɔrð-ið] ≈ “bor-thith.”
Why is hann spelled with double n? Do I need to pronounce it long?
Yes. Double consonants in Icelandic are geminates; you hold them a bit longer, and the preceding vowel is short. So hann has a slightly longer n than in English “han.”
What’s the verb’s dictionary form, and how is it conjugated in the present?
The infinitive is að hreinsa (to clean). Present tense:
- ég hreinsa
- þú hreinsar
- hann/hún/það hreinsar
- við hreinsum
- þið hreinsið
- þeir/þær/þau hreinsa
Does Hann hreinsar borðið mean he’s doing it right now?
By default it’s simple present (“he cleans the table”), often habitual or general. To emphasize an ongoing action right now, use the progressive-like construction:
- Hann er að hreinsa borðið = He is cleaning the table (right now).
How do I negate it?
Place ekki after the finite verb:
- Simple: Hann hreinsar ekki borðið = He doesn’t clean the table.
- Progressive: Hann er ekki að hreinsa borðið = He isn’t cleaning the table.
How do I ask a yes/no question like “Does he clean the table?” or “Is he cleaning the table?”
Put the finite verb first (Icelandic is verb-second):
- Hreinsar hann borðið? = Does he clean the table?
- Er hann að hreinsa borðið? = Is he cleaning the table?
How do I say it in the past or present perfect?
- Simple past: Hann hreinsaði borðið = He cleaned the table.
- Present perfect: Hann hefur hreinsað borðið = He has cleaned the table.
How do I express the future?
Common options:
- Hann mun hreinsa borðið = He will clean the table.
- Hann ætlar að hreinsa borðið = He is going to clean the table (intention).
- Present with a time adverb also works: Hann hreinsar borðið á morgun = He cleans the table tomorrow.
How do I say “He cleans the tables”?
- Definite plural: Hann hreinsar borðin = He cleans the tables.
- Indefinite plural: Hann hreinsar borð = He cleans tables (unspecified).
Why isn’t it borðinn for “the table”?
Because borð is neuter. The neuter definite singular ending is -ið: borðið. The masculine ending would be -inn (e.g., stóllinn = the chair), and the feminine is -in (e.g., bókin = the book).
Can I move words around for emphasis?
Yes, but keep verb-second. You can front the object for emphasis:
- Neutral: Hann hreinsar borðið.
- Object-fronted: Borðið hreinsar hann. (emphatic/focused on “the table”) You can’t say something like “Hann borðið hreinsar.”
What’s the difference between hreinsa, þrífa, þurrka, and hreinsa upp?
- hreinsa: clean/remove dirt or impurities; fairly general.
- þrífa: clean thoroughly, scrub/tidy; very common in household contexts.
- þurrka: wipe/dry (with a cloth).
- hreinsa upp: clean up, clear away (e.g., after a spill or event). All can collocate with borð depending on nuance: þurrka borðið (wipe the table), þrífa borðið (give it a proper clean).
How do prepositions affect borð? For example, “on the table” vs “onto the table.”
With two-way prepositions like á:
- Location (dative): á borðinu = on the table.
- Direction/motion (accusative): á borðið = onto the table. Example: Hann setur diskinn á borðið (onto), but Diskurinn er á borðinu (on).
What’s the difference between ð and þ?
- ð: voiced “th,” like in “this.” Example: borðið.
- þ: voiceless “th,” like in “thin.” Example: þrífa. A helpful rule of thumb: ð = “this,” þ = “thin.”