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Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hann talar hraðar núna. - He speaks faster now.

Hardcore Icelandic
/Lesson 16
/Hann talar hraðar núna.

Hann talar hraðar núna.

Word

Hann talar hraðar núna.

Meaning

He speaks faster now.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Icelandic

Lesson

Breakdown of Hann talar hraðar núna.

Questions & Answers about Hann talar hraðar núna.

What does the form talar tell me about the subject? Could it be tala or talir?

talar is the 3rd person singular present (he/she/it speaks) of tala “to speak.” Present forms of tala:

ég tala — I speak
þú talar — you speak (singular)
hann/hún/það talar — he/she/it speaks
við tölum — we speak (note the vowel change a → ö)
þið talið — you speak (plural)
þeir/þær/þau tala — they speak

So with hann (he), you must use talar.

Is hraðar an adjective or an adverb here? Why not hratt or hraður?

It’s a comparative adverb meaning “faster,” modifying the verb talar.

hratt = fast (positive adverb): Hann talar hratt.
hraðar = faster (comparative adverb): Hann talar hraðar.
hraðast = fastest (superlative adverb): Hann talar hraðast.

By contrast, hraður is an adjective (e.g., hraður bíll “a fast car”), and the comparative adjective is hraðari (e.g., Hann er hraðari “He is faster”).

Why not hraðara here?

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hraðara is the comparative adjective in neuter singular (e.g., Það er hraðara = “It is faster”). You need an adverb to modify a verb, so you use hraðar.

Can I say meira hratt for “more fast”?

No. Icelandic normally forms comparatives morphologically, not with meira (“more”) for words like this. Say hraðar, not “meira hratt.” You can intensify the comparative, though:

miklu hraðar, mun hraðar, enn hraðar = much/considerably/even faster.

Where can I put the time word núna? What word order rules apply?

Icelandic main clauses are V2: the finite verb is in second position.

Neutral: Hann talar hraðar núna.
Also fine: Hann talar núna hraðar.
If you front the time word, keep the verb second: Núna talar hann hraðar.

Adverbs like hraðar and núna typically come after the verb.

How do I negate this?

Place ekki after the finite verb:

Hann talar ekki hraðar núna. If you front núna:
Núna talar hann ekki hraðar.

What’s the difference between núna and nú?

Both mean “now,” and they’re interchangeable here:

Hann talar hraðar núna.
Hann talar hraðar nú. In general, núna is very common and neutral for “right now,” while nú can also be a discourse word (“Now, …”) or highlight a change of state. For “right now” emphasis you can also say akkúrat núna.

How do I say “He speaks faster than before/than me”?

Use en for “than”:

Hann talar hraðar en áður. = He speaks faster than before.
Hann talar hraðar en ég. = … than I (standard/normative). Note: In casual speech you may hear object forms (e.g., en mig), but nominative after en is preferred in careful usage.

Can I drop the subject pronoun Hann like in Spanish?

Generally no. Icelandic is not a pro‑drop language, so you keep hann: Hann talar … (not just Talar …), except in special contexts (e.g., headlines, notes, very informal ellipsis).

Could I use the progressive: Hann er að tala hraðar núna?

Yes. Vera að + infinitive marks an ongoing action:

Hann talar hraðar núna. = general present (also used for actions happening now).
Hann er að tala hraðar núna. = emphasizes that it’s happening right now.

Where do other adverbs like aldrei (never) or oft (often) go?

They normally come right after the finite verb and before manner/time adverbs:

Hann talar aldrei hratt.
Hann talar oft hraðar en áður. If you front something else, keep V2: Núna talar hann oft hraðar.

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Stress the first syllable of each word.
Hann: long n sound (like “han-n”).
talar: initial t is strongly aspirated; roll the r.
hraðar: the hr- is a voiceless r sound; ð is like the th in “this”; roll the final r. Roughly “RHA-thar.”
núna: ú is long, like “oo” in “soon” (“NOO-na”).

What’s the difference between tala and segja?

tala = to speak/talk; also “speak a language”: Hann talar íslensku.
segja = to say/tell (a specific statement): Hann segir þetta. / Hann segir mér frá þessu.

Does tala govern any cases with prepositions (talk to/about)?

Yes, via prepositions that take the accusative:

tala við e-n = talk to someone (við + acc): Hann talar við mig.
tala um e-ð = talk about something (um + acc): Hann talar um málið.

Can I put hraðar before the verb, like Hann hraðar talar?

No, that word order is ungrammatical in neutral speech. Keep adverbs after the finite verb: Hann talar hraðar … You can front hraðar for strong emphasis, but then the verb must be second: Hraðar talar hann núna (marked/emphatic style).

Is the spelling important? Any pitfalls?

hraðar uses ð (not d). ð never starts a word in Icelandic.
núna has ú (long u-sound).
Don’t confuse adverb hraðar (“faster”) with adjective forms like hraðari/hraðara.

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