Skjalið er á skrifstofunni.

The document is at the office.

Breakdown of Skjalið er á skrifstofunni.

• vera: to be
• á: at
• skrifstofan: the office
• skjalið: the document

Questions & Answers about Skjalið er á skrifstofunni.

What does the ending -ið in Skjalið do?

It’s the suffixed definite article for neuter singular in the nominative.

• Base noun: skjal (a document, neuter).
• Definite form: skjalið (the document).
  Icelandic typically marks definiteness by adding a suffix rather than a separate word for the.

Why does skrifstofunni end with -unni?

Because it’s dative singular definite of a feminine noun.

• Base noun: skrifstofa (an office, feminine).
• Dative singular (indefinite): skrifstofu.
• Dative singular (definite): skrifstofunni.
  The preposition á uses the dative for a stationary location, so the noun must be in dative, and the definite article is suffixed as -inni (spelled here as -unni because of the preceding vowel).

Why does á take the dative here and not the accusative?

With many Icelandic prepositions (including á), case depends on meaning:

• Dative = location/state: Ég er á skrifstofunni (I am at the office).
• Accusative = motion/into: Ég fer á skrifstofuna (I go to the office).

Could I use í instead of á here?

Sometimes, but there’s a nuance:

• á skrifstofunni usually means at the office (as a workplace/institution).
• í skrifstofunni emphasizes being inside the office room.
  Both can be correct depending on what you mean.

What cases appear in the sentence?

• Skjalið is nominative (it’s the subject).
• á skrifstofunni is dative (governed by á for location).
• er is just the verb and doesn’t assign case to the subject.

What is the verb er?

It’s the 3rd person singular present of vera (to be).

• Singular: ég er, þú ert, hann/hún/það er
• Plural: við erum, þið eruð, þeir/þær/þau eru

Is the word order normal? Can I front the place phrase?

Yes. Icelandic main clauses are V2 (verb in second position).

• Neutral: Skjalið er á skrifstofunni.
• With place fronted for emphasis or context: Á skrifstofunni er skjalið.
  Both are grammatical; the second highlights the location.

How would I ask Where is the document?

Hvar er skjalið?

How does the sentence change in the plural?

• Skjölin eru á skrifstofunni.
  Changes:
• skjal → skjölin (neuter plural definite; note the vowel change).
• er → eru (plural of to be).

Can I say a document is at an office (indefinite)?

Yes: Skjal er á skrifstofu.

• Skjal (a document, indefinite)
• á skrifstofu (at an office, indefinite dative)
  Using definites (skjalið, skrifstofunni) implies specific, known entities.

Does á mean on, at, or in?

All three are possible, depending on context:

• on (a surface): á borðinu (on the table)
• at (institution/place): á skrifstofunni (at the office)
• in (certain set phrases/regions): context-dependent
  Always check whether you mean surface contact, a general location, or inside a space; sometimes í is better for inside.

How would I say The document is on the desk?

Skjalið er á skrifborðinu.

• á
  • dative for location on a surface
• skrifborð (desk, neuter) → skrifborðinu (dative singular definite)

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• ð in skjalið is like the soft th in this (often very light at word-end).
• j sounds like English y (so skj is like sky- plus a palatal y glide).
• á is like the ow in cow.
• Stress is on the first syllable of each word: SKJA-lið ER á SKRIF-sto-funni.

Why not use a separate word for the like in English?

Icelandic normally attaches the definite article as a suffix to the noun (and to adjectives when present). A separate word hinn exists but is rare and stylistically marked; the everyday way is suffixing, as in skjalið, skrifstofunni.