Questions & Answers about Ég kaupi svartar buxur.
What case is the noun buxur here, and why?
Accusative plural. It’s the direct object of kaupa (to buy), and that verb takes the accusative. Note that for this noun, nominative and accusative plural look the same:
- nominative plural: buxur
- accusative plural: buxur
- dative plural: buxum
- genitive plural: buxna
Why is the adjective svartar (and not svarta or svart)?
Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Buxur is feminine plural accusative, so the strong adjective svartur takes the form:
- feminine plural nominative/accusative (strong): svartar Other useful plural forms for reference:
- dative plural: svörtum
- genitive plural: svartra
- weak plural (used with a definite noun): svörtu
Is buxur always plural? How do I say “a pair of pants”?
- Buxur is a plural-only noun for the garment (like “pants/trousers” in English).
- To say “a pair of pants,” use a pair-construction: eitt par af svörtum buxum (note the dative plural buxum after af, and svörtum agreeing in dative plural).
- A singular form buxa exists but refers to one pant leg, not the whole garment.
How do I say “the black pants”?