Kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel.

The teacher explains the project well.

Breakdown of Kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel.

• vel: well
• verkefnið: the project
• kennarinn: the teacher
• útskýra: to explain

Questions & Answers about Kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel.

What does the -inn at the end of Kennarinn mean?

It’s the definite article, meaning “the.” Icelandic usually attaches the definite article to the end of the noun rather than putting a separate word in front. So:

• kennari = teacher
• kennarinn = the teacher

Why does kennari drop the final -i to become kennarinn?

Many masculine nouns that end in -i in the nominative singular drop that -i before taking the definite ending -inn. So:

• stjóri → stjórinn (the manager)
• nemandi → nemandinn (the student)
• kennari → kennarinn (the teacher)

What cases are used in this sentence?

• Kennarinn is nominative (it’s the subject).
• verkefnið is accusative (it’s the direct object). Icelandic marks grammatical roles with case; direct objects are most often accusative.

Why does verkefni become verkefnið?

Because it’s neuter singular definite in the nominative/accusative. For many neuter nouns, the definite ending is -ið:

• verkefni = assignment (indefinite)
• verkefnið = the assignment (definite)

What is the gender of verkefni, and how does it decline?

Verkefni is neuter. In the singular, nominative/accusative/dative are all verkefni, and the genitive is verkefnis. The definite forms are:

• Nom/Acc: verkefnið
• Dat: verkefninu
• Gen: verkefnisins

What tense and person is útskýrir, and how do I conjugate útskýra?

Útskýrir is present tense, 3rd person singular. The verb is “to explain.” Key forms:

• Present: ég útskýri, þú útskýrir, hann/hún/það útskýrir, við útskýrum, þið útskýrið, þeir/þær/þau útskýra
• Past: ég útskýrði, þú útskýrðir, hann/hún/það útskýrði, við útskýrðum, þið útskýrðuð, þeir/þær/þau útskýrðu
• Past participle/supine: útskýrt

Is there a difference between útskýra and skýra?

They’re near-synonyms meaning “to explain/clarify.” Both are common. You’ll see:

• Hann skýrir þetta vel.
• Hann útskýrir þetta vel. Stylistic preferences vary; útskýra is very frequent in modern use.

Why is vel used instead of an adjective like góður?

Because vel is an adverb (“well”) and it modifies the verb (útskýrir). Adjectives (like góður, “good”) modify nouns, not verbs. Compare:

• góður kennari = a good teacher (adjective + noun)
• útskýrir vel = explains well (adverb + verb)

What is the normal word order here, and where does vel go?

Main clauses obey V2 (“verb-second”) order. A neutral pattern is:

• Subject – finite verb – object – manner adverb
• Kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel. Manner adverbs like vel are typically placed after the object. You can front items for emphasis, but the finite verb must remain in second position.

How would I turn this into a yes–no question?

Put the finite verb first (no auxiliary “do” in Icelandic):

• Útskýrir kennarinn verkefnið vel? = Does the teacher explain the assignment well?

How do I negate it?

Place ekki after the finite verb (and before the object in neutral word order):

• Kennarinn útskýrir ekki verkefnið vel. = The teacher does not explain the assignment well.

How do I say “The teacher has explained the assignment well”?

Use hafa + supine:

• Kennarinn hefur útskýrt verkefnið vel.

How do I replace the nouns with pronouns?

• Subject pronoun for “the teacher” (if male/female/unspecified): Hann/Hún/Þau útskýrir/útskýra þetta vel.
• Object pronoun “it/this”: það/þetta. Examples:
• Hann útskýrir það vel. = He explains it well.
• Hún útskýrir þetta vel. = She explains this well.

How do I make the subject or object indefinite?

Icelandic has no separate word for “a/an.” Just drop the definite endings:

• Kennari útskýrir verkefni vel. = A teacher explains an assignment well / teachers explain an assignment well (context decides). Often you’ll clarify number with context or add a numeral (einn/ein/eitt) if you really mean “one.”

How do I put this in the plural?

• Subject plural definite: kennararnir = the teachers
• Verb 3rd plural: útskýra
• Object plural definite (neuter): verkefnin = the assignments Example:
• Kennararnir útskýra verkefnin vel. = The teachers explain the assignments well.

How do I add an adjective like “the good teacher”?

With a definite noun, the adjective takes the weak form and the noun takes the suffixed article:

• Hinn góði kennari or more commonly góði kennarinn = the good teacher So: Góði kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel.

How are these words pronounced?

Approximate tips for English speakers:

• Kennarinn ≈ “KEN-nah-rin” (tapped r; stress on first syllable)
• útskýrir ≈ “OOT-skyir-ir” with the “sk” before ý sounding close to a soft “sh,” and ý like long “ee”
• verkefnið ≈ “VER-kev-nith” (final ð is a voiced “th” as in “this”) Bold vowels: ú is long “oo,” é/í/ý are long “ee”-like, ð is voiced “th,” r is tapped. Stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Can I move words for emphasis?

Yes, Icelandic allows fronting for focus, but keep the finite verb in second position (V2). For example, fronting the adverb for emphasis:

• Vel útskýrir kennarinn verkefnið. (Marked/poetic or strong emphasis on “well.”) Neutral speech sticks to: Kennarinn útskýrir verkefnið vel.