Sláttuvélin virkar betur þegar grasflötin er þurr.

to be

Breakdown of Sláttuvélin virkar betur þegar grasflötin er þurr.

• þegar: when
• virka: to work
• betur: better

Questions & Answers about Sláttuvélin virkar betur þegar grasflötin er þurr.

How do I break down Sláttuvélin?

Sláttuvélin is a single noun made of:

• sláttuvél = lawn mower
• -in = the suffixed definite article, so the

So sláttuvélin means the lawn mower.

A useful thing to notice is that Icelandic often builds nouns into compounds. Here the idea is basically mowing machine.

Why do sláttuvélin and grasflötin both end in -in?

Because Icelandic usually puts the onto the end of the noun instead of using a separate word in front.

So:

• sláttuvél = lawn mower
• sláttuvélin = the lawn mower

and:

• grasflöt = lawn / grass lawn
• grasflötin = the lawn

This -in ending here is the definite article attached to a feminine singular noun in the nominative.

What case and number are sláttuvélin and grasflötin?

Both are singular nominative.

• sláttuvélin is the subject of virkar
• grasflötin is the subject of er þurr

So the structure is:

• Sláttuvélin virkar betur = the lawn mower works better
• þegar grasflötin er þurr = when the lawn is dry

Since both nouns are subjects, nominative is exactly what you would expect.