Questions & Answers about Ég þvæ gaffalinn eftir kvöldmat.
Why is the verb þvæ here instead of the dictionary form þvo?
Because þvo is the infinitive, meaning to wash. In the sentence, the verb is conjugated for 1st person singular present tense: ég þvæ = I wash.
This verb is a bit irregular, so the vowel changes:
- að þvo = to wash
- ég þvæ = I wash
- þú þværð = you wash
- hann/hún/það þvær = he/she/it washes
Why is gaffalinn one word? Where is the separate word for the?
In Icelandic, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.
So:
- gaffall = fork
- gaffalinn / gaffallinn = the fork, depending on case
This is very normal in Icelandic. English uses a separate word the, but Icelandic usually uses a suffix such as -inn, -in, or -ið.
Why is it gaffalinn and not gaffallinn?
Because the noun is the direct object of þvæ, so it appears in the accusative case.
For this noun:
- nominative singular definite: