Mjólkin er skemmd, svo ég kaupi nýja.

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Breakdown of Mjólkin er skemmd, svo ég kaupi nýja.

• vera: to be
• kaupa: to buy
• nýr: new

Questions & Answers about Mjólkin er skemmd, svo ég kaupi nýja.

Why is mjólkin one word, and how does it mean the milk?

In Icelandic, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.

• mjólk = milk
• mjólkin = the milk

So the ending -in here is the definite article.

What case is mjólkin, and why?

Mjólkin is in the nominative singular.

That is because it is the subject of the sentence: it is the thing that is spoiled.

So:

• mjólkin = subject
• therefore it appears in the nominative

Why is it skemmd and not skemmdur or some other form?

Because skemmd has to agree with mjólkin.

Mjólk is:

• feminine
• singular
• here, nominative

So the adjective/past participle must also be feminine singular nominative:

• masculine: skemmdur
• feminine: skemmd
• neuter: skemmt

Since mjólkin is feminine, skemmd is the correct form.