Góður svefn er nauðsynlegur, en annað kaffi er óþarfi núna.

to be

Breakdown of Góður svefn er nauðsynlegur, en annað kaffi er óþarfi núna.

• góður: good
• núna: now
• kaffi: the coffee

Questions & Answers about Góður svefn er nauðsynlegur, en annað kaffi er óþarfi núna.

Why is it góður svefn but annað kaffi?

Because Icelandic adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.

• svefn is masculine singular
• kaffi is neuter singular

So the adjective changes form:

• góður svefn = good sleep
• annað kaffi = another coffee

The adjective annar is a bit irregular, and its neuter singular form is annað.

What are the genders of svefn and kaffi, and why do I need to know that?

• svefn = masculine
• kaffi = neuter

You need to know the gender because it affects:

• adjective endings
• pronouns
• sometimes article forms

That is why you get:

• góður svefn
• annað kaffi

instead of using one adjective form for everything, as in English.

What case are the nouns in here?

Both main noun phrases are in the nominative singular:

• Góður svefn
• annað kaffi

They are the subjects of the verb er (is), so nominative is the normal case.

The predicate adjective in the first clause, nauðsynlegur, also matches the subject in nominative masculine singular.