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Questions & Answers about Ég þarf gott tilboð.
Why is it gott and not góður or góð?
Because tilboð is a neuter noun. Adjectives agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case, so the correct form of góður (good) here is the neuter singular form gott. Masculine would be góður, feminine góð, but neuter is gott.
What case is tilboð in, and why?
Accusative. The verb þurfa (to need) takes a direct object in the accusative. Since tilboð is a neuter noun whose nominative and accusative singular look the same (both are tilboð), you see the case agreement mainly on other words—here the adjective is also in neuter singular accusative, which happens to be the same form as nominative: gott.
Why is there no word for “a” in gott tilboð?
Icelandic has no indefinite article. You just say gott tilboð for “a good deal/offer.” To say “the good deal,” you make the noun definite and switch the adjective to the weak form: góða tilboðið.
How do I pronounce the tricky letters and the whole sentence?
- Ég: roughly “yeh”; the g is a soft, voiced sound [ɣ], often barely heard.
- þ in þarf: like English th in “thin.”
- In þarf, the f is pronounced like v; say “tharv.”
- tt in gott is preaspirated (like an h before t): “goht,” with the o like in “caught.”
- ð in tilboð is like the th in “this” (voiced).
Altogether: “YEH tharv GOHT TIL-both.” (English approximation)
How would I turn this into a yes/no question?
Use verb-second word order. Put the finite verb first: Þarf ég gott tilboð? (“Do I need a good deal?”). With another element in front, the verb still stays in second position: Í dag þarf ég gott tilboð.
How is þurfa conjugated?
Present:
- ég þarf
- þú þarft
- hann/hún/það þarf
- við þurfum
- þið þurfið
- þeir/þær/þau þurfa
Past:
- ég þurfti
- þú þurftir
- hann/hún/það þurfti
- við þurftum
- þið þurftuð
- þeir/þær/þau þurftu
Perfect: with hafa + supine: hef/has/have þurft (“have needed”).
Can I also say “Mig vantar gott tilboð”? What’s the difference from Ég þarf gott tilboð?
Yes.
- Ég þarf gott tilboð = “I need a good deal.” Neutral, straightforward.
- Mig vantar gott tilboð (literally “me is lacking a good deal”) is very common and idiomatic for “I need/I’m missing.” It uses the verb vanta with the person in the accusative (mig) and the thing needed as the subject-like element. In everyday speech, both are fine; vanta can feel a bit more colloquial and concrete.
How do I say “I need to get a good deal”?
Use þurfa + að + infinitive: Ég þarf að fá gott tilboð. (fá = get). You can also say: Ég þarf að fá betra verð. (“I need to get a better price.”)
How do I make it definite: “the good deal”?
Attach the definite article to the noun and use the weak adjective:
- Nominative/accusative singular neuter: góða tilboðið = “the good deal” (as a subject or object).
How do I say it in the plural: “good deals”?
Neuter plural nominative/accusative of the adjective is góð, and the noun tilboð is the same in singular and plural.
- Indefinite: góð tilboð (“good deals”).
- Definite: góðu tilboðin (“the good deals”).
Where does negation go? How do I say “I don’t need a good deal”?
Place ekki after the finite verb: Ég þarf ekki gott tilboð.
More natural in many contexts is simply: Ég þarf ekkert tilboð. (“I don’t need any deal.”)
Is the word order fixed, or can I move things around?
Icelandic main clauses are verb-second (V2). The finite verb stays in second position, but you can front different elements for emphasis:
- Neutral: Ég þarf gott tilboð.
- Fronting an adverb: Núna þarf ég gott tilboð.
- Fronting the object (stylistic): Gott tilboð þarf ég núna.
What’s the nuance of tilboð? Is it “offer,” “deal,” or “sale”?
All of the above, depending on context:
- In bargaining/negotiation: tilboð = an offer/proposal.
- In shops/ads: tilboð! = “special offer,” “sale.” Related words:
- afsláttur = discount (money off): Get ég fengið afslátt? (“Can I get a discount?”)
- verð = price: gott verð (“a good price”).
How could I say this more politely in a shop?
- Get ég fengið gott tilboð? (“Could I get a good deal?”)
- Geturðu/Þú boðið mér betra verð? (“Can you offer me a better price?”)
- Viltu gera mér gott verð? (“Would you give me a good price?”)
- Softer: Ég væri til í gott tilboð. (“I’d be up for a good deal.”)
Is there any capitalization difference for “I/Íg”? Why is ég lowercase?
Icelandic does not capitalize the first-person pronoun; ég is lowercase unless it begins a sentence. This differs from English “I.”