Breakdown of Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.
vera
to be
í
in
tölvupósturinn
the email
staðfestingin
the confirmation
Questions & Answers about Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.
Why does Staðfestingin end with -in?
The ending -in is the attached definite article for feminine nouns. The base noun is staðfesting (confirmation, fem.). In the nominative singular, the definite form is staðfestingin (the confirmation). Other common definite case forms:
- Accusative: staðfestinguna
- Dative: staðfestingunni
- Genitive: staðfestingarinnar
Why is tölvupóstinum in the dative and with the ending -num?
The preposition í takes the dative when it expresses location (being in/inside). The noun tölvupóstur (email, masc.) has dative singular tölvupósti; with the definite suffix it becomes tölvupóstinum. The -num ending is the regular definite dative singular ending for many masculine nouns.
When would í use the accusative instead?
Use the accusative after í for motion into something (change of location):
- Location (dative): Það er í tölvupóstinum. (It is in the email.)
- Motion (accusative): Ég set þetta í tölvupóstinn. (I put this into the email.)
What is the base form and plural of tölvupóstinum?