Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Ég vel aðra skyrtu í dag.

Because the verb velja (“to choose”) takes a direct object in the accusative. The noun skyrta is feminine; its accusative singular is skyrtu. The adjective annar (“other/another”) must agree: feminine accusative singular is aðra. So you get aðra skyrtu (accusative), not önnur skyrta (nominative).

What are the essential forms of annar (“other/another”) I should know?

The most useful singular forms:

Feminine: Nominative önnur, Accusative aðra
Masculine: Nominative annar, Accusative annan
Neuter: Nominative/Accusative annað

Why is skyrtu (not skyrta) used here? How does “skyrta” decline?

Skyrta is a common weak feminine -a noun. Singular:

N skyrta
A skyrtu
D skyrtu
G skyrtu Plural:
N/A skyrtur
D skyrtum
G skyrtna

Here it’s the direct object, so accusative: skyrtu.

What does Ég vel come from? How do you conjugate velja?

Present:

ég vel, þú velur, hann/hún/það velur, við veljum, þið veljið, þeir/þær/þau velja Past:
ég valdi, þú valdir, hann valdi, við völdum, þið völduð, þeir völdu Perfect: ég hef valið (“I have chosen”)

What does í dag literally mean, and why í?

Literally “in day,” but it’s a fixed time expression meaning today. The preposition í often takes the accusative for time; dagur (day) declines N dagur, A dag, D degi, G dags. So: í dag (accusative). Note other time phrases: í kvöld (tonight), but á morgun (tomorrow).

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Icelandic main clauses are verb‑second (V2):

Neutral: Ég vel aðra skyrtu í dag.
Emphasis on time: Í dag vel ég aðra skyrtu.
Also fine: Ég vel í dag aðra skyrtu. If you front something (e.g., Í dag), keep the finite verb second.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximate guide:

Ég ≈ “yeh-gh” (final g as a soft gh)
vel ≈ “vehl” (long e)
aðra ≈ “ath-ra” (soft ð as in “this”; trilled r)
skyrtu ≈ “shkirt-oo” (sk before y sounds like “shk”; r is voiceless)
í dag ≈ “ee daag” (long í; g as soft gh) Full: “YEH-gh vehl ATH-ra SHKIRT-oo ee DAAG”

Can I say Ég kýs aðra skyrtu instead of Ég vel…?

You can, but kjósa is more formal and common for voting/elections. For everyday choices like clothes, velja is standard. Colloquially, taka (“take/pick”) also appears: Ég tek aðra skyrtu.

Do I need an article before skyrtu?

No. Icelandic has no separate indefinite article. Aðra skyrtu already means “another shirt.” The definite article is a suffix: “the shirt” (acc.) is skyrtuna.

Is the að in aðra the same as the particle að meaning “to”?

No. In aðra, those letters are just part of the adjective form (accusative feminine of annar). The particle að (“to/that”) is separate and would precede a verb: Ég vel að fara (“I choose to go”).

How do I say “the other shirt (of two)”?

Use hin (“the other (one)”) with a definite noun:

Accusative: Ég vel hina skyrtuna. This contrasts two items specifically. Aðra skyrtu is indefinite (“another/different shirt”).

Why do I see both ö and a: önnur vs aðra?

Annar is irregular and alternates vowels. Common forms:

Feminine: önnur (N), aðra (A)
Masculine: annar (N), annan (A)
Neuter: annað (N/A) The alternation is normal and must be memorized.

Does aðra skyrtu mean “one more shirt” or “a different shirt”?

It can mean either; context decides. To force “additional,” add í viðbót: Ég vel aðra skyrtu í viðbót (“one more shirt”). To force “different,” clarify: Ég vel aðra skyrtu, ekki þessa (“a different shirt, not this one”).

Can I drop the subject pronoun Ég?

No. Icelandic is not a pro‑drop language in normal usage. Keep the subject: Ég vel… (imperatives are different: Veldu! “Choose!”).

How would I make it plural: “I’m choosing other shirts”?

Use feminine accusative plural:

Ég vel aðrar skyrtur í dag. Here aðrar (f. acc. pl.) agrees with skyrtur (acc. pl.).

How do I ask a yes/no question with these words?

Place the verb first and address the right person:

Velurðu aðra skyrtu í dag? (“Are you choosing another shirt today?”) Short answers: Já/Nei
- verb (e.g., Já, ég vel. / Nei, ég vel ekki.)

What case is dag in í dag, and how does dagur decline?

Accusative. Dagur declines: N dagur, A dag, D degi, G dags. Hence the fixed expression í dag.