Spurningin er góð, en við ræðum hana eftir hádegi.

to be

Breakdown of Spurningin er góð, en við ræðum hana eftir hádegi.

• við: we
• en: but
• eftir: after

Questions & Answers about Spurningin er góð, en við ræðum hana eftir hádegi.

What does the ending in spurningin mean?

• The base noun is spurning = “question.”
• The ending -in is the definite article attached to the noun, so spurningin = “the question.”
• Other common forms you might see:
  • Accusative definite: spurninguna (e.g., “discuss the question” = ræða spurninguna)
  • Dative definite: spurningunni
  • Indefinite: spurning (“a question”); ein spurning (“one/a question”)

Why is the adjective góð (and not góður or gott)?

• Adjectives in Icelandic agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.
• Spurningin is feminine singular nominative, so the predicate adjective is feminine singular nominative: góð.
• Gender forms of “good” in the nominative singular: masculine góður, feminine góð, neuter gott.
• Note: In predicate position (after “to be”), adjectives use the “strong” form even with a definite noun: Spurningin er góð. If the adjective comes before a definite noun, it normally takes a “weak” ending: góða spurningin = “the good question.”

What does en mean here, and why is there a comma before it?