Prófið er erfitt, en ég hef verið að æfa daglega.

The exam is difficult, but I have been practicing daily.

Breakdown of Prófið er erfitt, en ég hef verið að æfa daglega.

• ég: I
• vera: to be
• hafa: to have
• en: but

Questions & Answers about Prófið er erfitt, en ég hef verið að æfa daglega.

Why does the noun appear as Prófið and not just próf?

Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffixed article. próf is a neuter noun meaning test/exam. Adding the neuter singular definite ending -ið gives prófið = the test. Use prófið when a specific test is meant; use próf for a test in general or in indefinite contexts.

Why is the adjective erfitt and not erfiður?

Adjectives agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. próf is neuter singular nominative, so the predicative adjective must also be neuter singular nominative: erfitt. The basic forms are: masculine erfiður, feminine erfið, neuter erfitt.

What case is Prófið in here?

Nominative. With the copular verb vera (to be), the subject appears in the nominative, and the predicative adjective (erfitt) also agrees in nominative.

Could I say Prófið er erfiður?

No. erfiður is masculine; it doesn’t agree with the neuter subject prófið. The correct agreement is Prófið er erfitt.