Question 1

Where is the word for a in Ný skóreim?

Accepted Answer

There is no separate word for a in Icelandic. Icelandic has no indefinite article, so a bare noun phrase like ný skóreim can mean a new shoelace. The language does have a definite article, but it is usually added as a suffix to the noun.

Question 2

Why is it ný and not nýr?

Accepted Answer

Because skóreim is a feminine singular nominative noun, and the adjective has to agree with it. The feminine nominative singular form of nýr is ný. Since the phrase is indefinite, the adjective is also in its strong form.

Question 3

Why is skóreim written as one word?

Accepted Answer

Icelandic usually writes compound nouns as one word. Skóreim is made from skór meaning shoe and reim meaning lace/strap. In compounds, the first part often appears as a stem, so skór becomes skó-.

Question 4

Why does the sentence say hjálpar ekki mikið? What is mikið doing here?

Accepted Answer

Here mikið means much / a lot. So hjálpar ekki mikið means doesn’t help much. Grammatically, mikið is the neuter singular form of mikill, but Icelandic often uses that form adverbially.

Question 5

Why does ekki come after hjálpar?

Accepted Answer

In a normal Icelandic main clause, the finite verb usually comes early, often in the second position. Negation with ekki normally comes after that finite verb. So hjálpar ekki is the expected order.

Question 6

Does hjálpa usually take an object, and if so, what case?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hjálpa normally takes a dative object, as in það hjálpar mér meaning that helps me. In this sentence, the object is simply left unstated, because the meaning is general: a new shoelace does not help much in that situation.

Question 7

Why is it sóli skósins?

Accepted Answer

This is a genitive possession structure. Skósins is the genitive singular definite form of skór, so sóli skósins means the sole of the shoe. English often uses of here, while Icelandic often uses the genitive directly.

Question 8

Why is there no article on sóli, even though English says the sole?

Accepted Answer

When a noun is followed by a definite genitive possessor, Icelandic often leaves the head noun without its own definite article. So sóli skósins is the natural way to say the sole of the shoe. Using the article on sóli here would usually sound unnatural.

Question 9

What does er orðinn mean?

Accepted Answer

Er orðinn is a very common Icelandic way to say has become or has gotten. It is built from vera meaning to be and orðinn, the past participle of verða meaning become. Literally it looks like is become, but in natural English it usually corresponds to has become.

Question 10

Why are orðinn and þunnur masculine singular?

Accepted Answer

Because they both agree with sóli, which is a masculine singular noun. In Icelandic, predicate adjectives and participles agree with the noun they describe. If the subject were feminine, the forms would change, for example reimin er orðin of þunn.

Question 11

What does of mean here?

Accepted Answer

Of here means too or overly. So of þunnur means too thin. It is not related to the English preposition of.

Question 12

Why does the ef clause use er and not some special subjunctive form?

Accepted Answer

Because this is a normal, realistic condition. Icelandic usually uses the indicative after ef when talking about real or general situations, just like in this sentence. A subjunctive form would suggest a different kind of mood or style and is not needed here.

Question 13

How is the letter þ in þunnur pronounced?

Accepted Answer

It is pronounced like the th in thin. So þunnur begins with that voiceless th sound, not the th of this.

Ný skóreim hjálpar ekki mikið ef sóli skósins er orðinn of þunnur.

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