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?