Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega.

to be

Breakdown of Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega.

• stundataflan: the timetable
• nýlega: recently
• uppfærður: updated

Questions & Answers about Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega.

What does the ending -an in the word Stundataflan indicate?

It’s the suffixed definite article for a feminine noun in the nominative singular.

• Indefinite: stundatafla (a timetable)
• Definite: stundataflan (the timetable)

Icelandic usually marks definiteness by attaching an ending to the noun rather than using a separate word like “the.”

Why is it uppfærð here and not uppfærður or uppfært?

Because the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number when used with vera (to be). Stundataflan is feminine singular, so the participle is feminine singular: uppfærð.

• Masculine singular: uppfærður
• Feminine singular: uppfærð
• Neuter singular: uppfært
• Plural agreement: uppfærðir (masc pl), uppfærðar (fem pl), uppfærð (neut pl)

This construction is the resultative/stative passive with vera + past participle.

Why is the verb var used and not voru or er?

• var = was (past, singular), matching singular stundataflan.
• voru = were (past, plural): e.g., Stundatöflurnar voru uppfærðar nýlega.
• er = is (present): Stundataflan er uppfærð.

Can I include who did the updating (an agent) in this sentence?

Yes. Use af + dative to express “by X.”

• Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega af skólanum. (by the school)
• Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega af kerfinu. (by the system)

Note that af takes the dative: skólinn (nom) → skólanum (dat).

Could I use the -st passive/middle voice instead of vera + participle?

Yes: Stundataflan uppfærðist nýlega.

• vera + participle (var uppfærð) typically emphasizes the resultant state (it was in an updated state).
• -st form (uppfærðist) often highlights the event happening, especially when the agent is irrelevant or unknown.

Where can the adverb nýlega go? Does word order change meaning?

You have several natural options:

• Stundataflan var uppfærð nýlega. (neutral; very common)
• Stundataflan var nýlega uppfærð. (slight focus on the timing)
• Nýlega var stundataflan uppfærð. (fronts the time for emphasis)

All mean the same in most contexts; placement can slightly adjust emphasis.

Why nýlega and not nýleg?

• nýlega is an adverb meaning “recently” and modifies the verb phrase: var uppfærð nýlega.
• nýleg/‑ur/‑t is an adjective meaning “recent” and modifies a noun: nýleg uppfærsla (a recent update), nýleg útgáfa (a recent version).

So use nýlega with actions/events, nýleg with nouns.

How do I say this actively, and how is uppfæra conjugated?

The verb is uppfæra (to update). Key forms:

• Present: ég uppfæri, hann/hún uppfærir
• Past: ég/hann/hún uppfærði
• Past participle (as adjective): uppfærður/uppfærð/uppfært

Active example:

• Ég uppfærði stundatöfluna í gær. (I updated the timetable yesterday.) Note the object in the accusative definite: stundatöfluna.

What is the plural version of the original sentence?

Stundatöflurnar voru uppfærðar nýlega.

• Plural noun: stundatöflur (indef.), stundatöflurnar (def.)
• Plural past of vera: voru
• Feminine plural participle agreement: uppfærðar

What is inside the compound word stundatafla, and why is it stunda‑ and not stund‑?

stundatafla is a compound:

• stund = hour/period
• tafla = table/chart

In compounds, the first element often appears in the genitive (here, stunda‑ is the genitive plural of stund). Literally “hour-table,” i.e., a timetable/schedule.

Pronunciation tips for tricky parts like ð, æ, ý, and the pp+f cluster?

• Primary stress is on the first syllable of words: STUN‑da‑taf‑lan; NÝ‑le‑ga.
• ð (as in uppfærð) is like English “th” in “this” between vowels; word-finally and in clusters it often sounds devoiced, like “th” in “thin.”
• æ sounds like the vowel in “eye.”
• ý is a long “ee” sound.
• In uppfærð, the ppf cluster tends to be pronounced like [pf].
• The g in nýlega between vowels is a soft fricative (like a gentle voiced h), not a hard “g.”

How do I say has been updated or is updated instead of was updated?

• has been updated: Stundataflan hefur verið uppfærð. (present perfect; recent past with present relevance)
• is updated: Stundataflan er uppfærð. (current state)
• For a future: Stundataflan verður uppfærð á morgun. (will be updated)

Why isn’t it uppfærða after var? I’ve seen adjectives ending in -a.

After vera in a predicative position (X is Y), adjectives/participles take the nominative strong form, hence uppfærð (fem nom sg). The -a ending is the weak form, used when the adjective directly modifies a definite noun:

• Predicative: Stundataflan er uppfærð.
• Attributive with a definite noun: hin uppfærða stundatafla / uppfærða stundataflan (the updated timetable)

So after var/er, use uppfærð, not uppfærða.

Is stundatafla always the right word for “timetable/schedule”?

• stundatafla is the normal word for a school timetable or class schedule.
• For public transport or general time tables, you’ll often see tímatöflur.
• More general words for a plan/schedule include áætlun or dagskrá (program/agenda), depending on context.