Questions & Answers about Ég rata betur þegar ég er með kort.
Why is betur used here, not betra?
Because betur is the comparative adverb meaning better.
In this sentence, it modifies the verb rata (to find one’s way / navigate), so Icelandic uses an adverb, not an adjective.
- vel = well
- betur = better
- best = best
By contrast, betra is usually the neuter form of the adjective betri (better) and would be used to describe a noun, not to modify a verb.
So:
- Ég rata betur = I find my way better
- not Ég rata betra
What exactly does rata mean?
Rata is a very common Icelandic verb meaning something like:
- to find one’s way
- to know the way
- to manage to navigate
It is often used where English might use several different expressions, such as:
- I can find my way
- I know where I’m going
- I don’t get lost
- I can navigate
So Ég rata betur does not literally mean just I better, but more naturally I find my way better or I navigate better.
Why is there a second ég in the sentence?