Breakdown of Samtalið tekur nokkrar mínútur.
taka
to take
samtalið
the conversation
nokkur
a few
mínúta
the minute
Questions & Answers about Samtalið tekur nokkrar mínútur.
What does the ending in Samtalið mean?
The ending -ið is the suffixed definite article for a neuter noun in the nominative/accusative singular. The base noun is samtal (a conversation, neuter). So:
- samtal = conversation (indefinite)
- samtalið = the conversation (definite)
Because it’s the subject of the sentence, it’s nominative.
What form is the verb tekur, and from which verb?
Tekur is 3rd person singular present indicative of taka (to take). Mini-paradigm:
- Present: ég tek, þú tekur, hann/hún/það tekur, við tökum, þið takið, þeir/þær/þau taka
- Past (3sg): hann tók
- Past participle: tekið
Why is mínútur in that form?
Mínúta is a feminine noun. Here it’s plural and functions as the direct object (the thing “taken”), so it’s accusative plural: mínútur.
- Singular: nom mínúta, acc mínútu
- Plural: nom/acc mínútur, dat mínútum, gen mínútna