Ég les bók í smástund áður en ég fer að sofa.

I

Breakdown of Ég les bók í smástund áður en ég fer að sofa.

• bókin: the book
• lesa: to read
• áður en: before

Questions & Answers about Ég les bók í smástund áður en ég fer að sofa.

Why is bók translated as a book when there is no separate word for a?

Icelandic does not have an indefinite article like English a/an.

So:

• bók = a book or just book
• bókin = the book

The definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun, not written as a separate word.

Why is it les and not lesa?

Lesa is the infinitive, meaning to read.

When the verb is conjugated for ég = I, it becomes les in the present tense:

• ég les = I read
• að lesa = to read

So les is just the correct present-tense form for ég.

Does ég les mean I read or I am reading?