Undirskriftin er skýr.

Breakdown of Undirskriftin er skýr.

vera
to be
skýr
clear
undirskriftin
the signature
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Questions & Answers about Undirskriftin er skýr.

What does each word mean and what are their grammatical roles?
  • Undirskrift-in = signature + the; the subject (feminine nominative singular). Built from undir (under) + skrift (writing) with the definite ending -in.
  • er = is; 3rd person singular of vera (to be); the copula.
  • skýr = clear; a predicate adjective describing the subject.
Why does the noun end in -in? Where is “the”?
Icelandic uses a suffixed definite article. For feminine nouns in nominative singular, the ending is -in. So undirskriftundirskriftin = “the signature.” (For reference: masculine -inn, feminine -in, neuter -ið.)
What gender/case/number is undirskriftin, and why?
It’s feminine nominative singular. It’s the subject of the sentence, and subjects of the copula vera (“to be”) are in the nominative. The final -t in undirskrift is part of the root; it doesn’t make the noun neuter.
Why is the adjective skýr and not skýrt or skýra?
  • Predicate adjectives agree with the subject. With a feminine singular subject (undirskriftin), the form is skýr. (For this adjective, masculine and feminine nominative singular look the same.)
  • skýrt is the neuter form (also the adverb “clearly”: Hann skrifar skýrt = He writes clearly).
  • skýra is the weak feminine form used attributively with a definite noun: skýra undirskriftin = the clear signature.
How would I say “The signatures are clear”?

Undirskriftirnar eru skýrar.

  • undirskriftirnar = the signatures (feminine nominative plural, definite)
  • eru = are
  • skýrar = clear (feminine nominative plural)
How do I negate the sentence?

Place ekki after the verb: Undirskriftin er ekki skýr.
You can also choose a different adjective:

  • Undirskriftin er óskýr. = The signature is unclear.
  • Undirskriftin er ólæsileg. = The signature is illegible.
How do I turn it into a yes/no question and answer it?

Invert verb and subject: Er undirskriftin skýr?
Answers:

  • Já, hún er skýr. (Yes, it is clear.) [hún because the noun is feminine]
  • Nei, hún er ekki skýr.
Can I change the word order for emphasis?
Yes. Fronting the adjective is possible for emphasis or style: Skýr er undirskriftin. This is marked/poetic; the neutral order is Undirskriftin er skýr.
How do I say “a clear signature” vs “the clear signature”?
  • a clear signature: skýr undirskrift (adjective before an indefinite noun; strong form)
  • the clear signature: skýra undirskriftin or hin skýra undirskrift (with a definite noun; weak form skýra)
Which pronoun replaces undirskriftin?
Use the feminine pronoun hún: Hún er skýr.
How do I pronounce it?

Approximate guide:

  • Undirskriftin: “UN-dir-skrih-ftin” (u like “put”; r tapped; nd often sounds like nt)
  • er: “ehr”
  • skýr: “skeer” (ý = long “ee”; r tapped/rolled) Stress the first syllable: UN-dir-skriftin ehr SKEER.
How does the adjective change with different subjects in this pattern?

Predicate adjectives agree with the subject:

  • Masculine: Samningurinn er skýr. (The contract is clear.)
  • Feminine: Undirskriftin er skýr.
  • Neuter: Skjalið er skýrt.
  • Plural feminine: Undirskriftirnar eru skýrar.
Is there a difference between undirskrift and undirritun?

Yes:

  • undirskrift = a signature (the written name/mark)
  • undirritun = the act of signing (e.g., a signing ceremony) Example: Undirritun samningsins fór fram í morgun og undirskriftin er skýr.
Can I intensify the adjective?
Yes: Undirskriftin er mjög skýr. = The signature is very clear. Other intensifiers: afar, býsna, rosalega (colloquial).
What are the key forms of “vera” (to be) I might need?
  • Present: ég er, þú ert, hann/hún/það er, við erum, þið eruð, þeir/þær/þau eru
  • Past: ég var, þú varst, hann/hún/það var, við vorum, þið voruð, þeir/þær/þau voru