Kennarinn hjálpar þeim.

The teacher helps them.

Breakdown of Kennarinn hjálpar þeim.

• kennarinn: the teacher
• hjálpa: to help
• þeim: them

Questions & Answers about Kennarinn hjálpar þeim.

Why is kennarinn one word—where is the word for “the”?

Icelandic usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of in front of it.

• kennari = a teacher
• kennarinn = the teacher (kennari + inn)

So -inn is the masculine singular definite ending meaning “the” here. That’s why you don’t see a separate word like English the.

What is the basic dictionary form of kennarinn?

The dictionary (lemma) form is kennari.

The full relation is:

• kennari – teacher (indefinite, nominative singular)
• kennarinn – the teacher (definite, nominative singular)

So kennarinn = kennari + -inn (the).

How do I know that kennarinn is the subject of the sentence?

In Icelandic:

• The subject is normally in the nominative case.
• The finite verb usually comes in second position in a statement.
• The subject usually comes before the verb in a neutral sentence.

In Kennarinn hjálpar þeim: