To express that a state has been fully reached—like a photograph finally appearing in the developer fluid—Icelandic uses the construction vera orðinn. This pairs the verb vera (to be) with the past participle of verða (to become), translating to "has become" or "has gotten."
Because this construction describes the subject, both orðinn and the adjective (or noun) that follows it must be in the nominative case and agree with the subject in gender and number.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | orðinn | orðnir |
| Feminine | orðin | orðnar |
| Neuter | orðið | orðin |
Singular Agreement
Match the singular form of orðinn to the noun's gender.
Masculine (vökvinn):
| The liquid has become cold, so we need to wait. | Vökvinn er orðinn kaldur svo við þurfum að bíða. |
Feminine (myndin, andlitsmyndin):
| The picture has become visible and the process is exciting. | Myndin er orðin sýnileg og ferlið er spennandi. |
| The portrait has become clear after the development. | Andlitsmyndin er orðin skýr eftir framköllunina. |
Neuter (ferlið):
| The process has become exciting and the picture is striking. | Ferlið er orðið spennandi og myndin er sláandi. |
Plural Agreement
When the subject is plural, conjugate vera (e.g., eru) and use the plural endings for both orðinn and the adjective.
Feminine plural (ljósmyndirnar):
| The photographs have become visible and are drying on the clip. | Ljósmyndirnar eru orðnar sýnilegar og þorna á klemmunni. |
Masculine plural (skuggarnir):
| The shadows have become dark on these pictures. | Skuggarnir eru orðnir dimmir á þessum myndum. |