Participles as definite adjectives

Past Participles as Adjectives

Just like in English, you can use a verb's past participle as an adjective to describe a noun's state—turning saxa (to chop) into "chopped" or þeyta (to whip) into "whipped."

When an adjective describes a specific, definite noun (like the chopped parsley, rather than just some chopped parsley), it takes its weak declension.

For the past participles in this lesson, this weak form consistently ends in -a across all the feminine nominative, neuter nominative/accusative, and masculine accusative examples.

The chopped parsley is in the bowl.
Saxaða steinseljan er í skálinni.
The cook puts the chopped onion in the pot.
Kokkurinn setur saxaða laukinn í pottinn.
Are you going to use the whipped cream and the lemon?
Ætlar þú að nota þeytta rjómann og sítrónuna?

Preparing the Meal

Whether the food is marinated, grilled, or baked, simply place the weak participle directly before the definite noun.

The marinated chicken breast is very good.
Marineraða kjúklingabringan er mjög góð.
I put the parsley on the marinated meat.
Ég set steinseljuna á marineraða kjötið.
Do you want to taste the baked puff pastry?
Viltu smakka bakaða smjördeigið?
Do you like the grilled white cabbage?
Finnst þér grillaða hvítkálið gott?