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Icelandic

When a friend tells you about a quirky town rule or a strange new local bylaw, you might respond with "Is it?" or "Does it?" to show interest or surprise. In English, these are called echo questions.

In Icelandic, forming an echo question takes three parts: the verb, the subject pronoun, and the word *það* (it).

### Regular Verbs

If the original statement uses a regular main verb, the echo question uses *gera* (to do). Conjugate *gera* to match the tense, follow it with a pronoun matching the subject's gender, and end with *það*.

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Because *sveitarfélagið* (the municipality) is a neuter noun, the pronoun is *það*. This creates the double-*það* phrase *Gerir það það?* (literally "Does it do it?").

### The Verb "Vera" and Auxiliaries

If the statement uses *vera* (to be) or an auxiliary verb like *ætla* (to intend), reuse that same verb instead of *gera*.

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Here, *samþykktin* (the bylaw) is feminine, so the subject pronoun is *hún*.

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### Matching the Tense

Echo questions always match the tense of the original statement.

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### Negative Statements

If you are reacting to a negative statement, simply add *ekki* (not) to the very end.

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Echo questions (er það?)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Presentative and the definite suffix (þetta er, -inn, -in, -ið)

Singular pronouns and to be (ég er, þú ert)

Singular adjective agreement

Yes/no questions (ert þú…?)

Basic negation (ekki)

Plural pronouns and to be (við erum, þeir eru)

Group 1 weak verbs (-ar)

Group 2 and 3 verbs (-ir, -ur)

Information questions (hvað, hver, hvar)

Expressing opinions (mér finnst, mér líkar)

Expressing desires (mig langar)

Numbers 1 to 10 (einn, tveir, þrír)

Direct objects on indefinite nouns

Direct objects on definite nouns

Singular object pronouns (mig, þig...)

Plural object pronouns (okkur, ykkur...)

Directional prepositions (um, í, á)

Verb-second word order

Expressing intentions (ætla að)

Needs and wants (þurfa, vilja)

Middle voice verbs (-st)

Possessive pronouns (minn, þinn)

Dative case with prepositions (í, á, frá)

Definite dative nouns (-num, -nni, -nu)

Dative personal pronouns (honum, henni, þeim)

Plural nouns (-ar, -ir, -ur)

Definite plural nouns (-nir, -nar, -in)

Accusative plural nouns

Number agreement 1 to 4 (einn, tveir…)

Singular commands

Past tense of the verb to be (var, vorum)

Present continuous (vera að)

Strong verbs in the present tense

Weather and dummy subjects (það)

Invariable possessive pronouns (hans, hennar, þeirra)

Accusative possessives (minn, þinn)

Accompaniment (með)

Dative plural (-um, -unum)

Compound sentences (og, en, eða)

"This" in the nominative (þessi, þessi, þetta)

"This" in the accusative (þennan, þessa, þetta)

Accusative adjectives (-an, -a, -t)

Numbers 1 to 4 in the accusative (einn, tvo, þrjá)

Third-person reflexive pronouns (sig, sér)

The preposition "to" with the genitive (til)

Subordinating conjunctions (að, af því að)

Simple past of weak verbs (-aði)

Question words (hvernig, hvaða)

Physical possession (vera með)

Abstract possession (hafa)

Telling time (hálf, korter)

Plural commands (-ið)

The simple past tense (-di, -ti, -ði)

Possessive noun endings (-s, -ar)

Days of the week (á mánudaginn, á mánudögum)

Kveðjur — greetings (halló, bless)

Um mig — where I am from

Kurteisi — please, sorry, congratulations

Ability and knowing how (kunna að)

Permission (mega)

Obligation (eiga að)

Plural strong verbs

Numbers 11 to 20 (ellefu, tólf...)

Counting by tens to 100 (þrjátíu, fjörutíu...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (fyrsti, annar...)

All / everything / everyone (allur)

The indefinite pronoun someone (einhver)

The indefinite pronoun no one (enginn)

Compound numbers from 21 (tuttugu og)

This in the dative singular (þessum, þessari, þessu)

These in the dative plural (þessum)

My and your in the dative (mínum, þínum)

Numbers 1 to 4 in the dative (einum, tveimur)

Adjectives in the dative singular (-um, -ri, -u)

Adjectives in the dative plural (-um)

Reflexive possessive in the accusative (sinn, sína, sitt)

Reflexive possessive in the dative (sínum, sinni)

Reflexive versus regular possessives (sinn, hans)

Demonstrative plural (þessir, þessar, þessi)

Definite genitive singular (-sins, -arinnar)

Indefinite genitive plural (-a)

Definite genitive plural (-anna)

Genitive prepositions (án, milli, vegna)

Prepositions of direction (yfir, undir, fyrir)

Prepositions of static location (yfir, undir, fyrir)

Question	Answer
the municipality	sveitarfélagið
to limit	takmarka
local	staðbundinn
The municipality limits this local service. Does it?	Sveitarfélagið takmarkar þessa staðbundnu þjónustu. Gerir það það?
the bylaw	samþykktin
ridiculous	fáránlegur
The new bylaw is really ridiculous. Is it?	Nýja samþykktin er virkilega fáránleg. Er hún það?
to implement	innleiða
the legislation	löggjöfin
The state intends to implement twice as strict legislation. Does it?	Ríkið ætlar að innleiða helmingi strangari löggjöf. Ætlar það það?
the local council	sveitarstjórnin
to revoke	afturkalla
controversial	umdeildur
The local council revoked the bylaw because it was controversial. Did it?	Sveitarstjórnin afturkallaði samþykktina af því að hún var umdeild. Gerði hún það?
The controversial mayor is wearing a blue jacket. Is he?	Umdeildi bæjarstjórinn er í bláum jakka. Er hann það?
"This rule is ridiculous," the mayor said. Did he?	„Þessi regla er fáránleg,“ sagði bæjarstjórinn. Sagði hann það?
The municipality follows both the new rule and the old legislation. Does it?	Sveitarfélagið fylgir bæði nýju reglunni og gömlu löggjöfinni. Gerir það það?
The school intends to either implement this or find a local solution. Does it?	Skólinn ætlar annaðhvort að innleiða þetta eða finna staðbundna lausn. Ætlar hann það?
The police limited the traffic and revoked the permit. Did they?	Lögreglan takmarkaði umferðina og afturkallaði leyfið. Gerði hún það?
The local council often makes such decisions. Does it?	Sveitarstjórnin tekur oft slíkar ákvarðanir. Gerir hún það?
The local council did not revoke it. Didn't it?	Sveitarstjórnin afturkallaði hana ekki. Gerði hún það ekki?