Questions & Answers about Hann kemur án nýrra skóa.
Why are the words nýrra and skóa in the genitive case here?
They are forced into the genitive case by the preposition án (without). In Icelandic, án is one of the few prepositions that always requires the following nouns and adjectives to be in the genitive.
What is the base form of nýrra, and how do we get this ending?
The dictionary form is the adjective nýr (new). When describing a plural noun in the genitive case, most adjectives take the ending -ra. Therefore, nýr becomes nýrra.
How does the noun skór (shoe) change in the plural?
The base word skór is a masculine noun, and its plural forms change in every case! It is skór in the nominative, skó in the accusative, skóm in the dative, and, as we see in this sentence, skóa in the genitive.
How would the endings change if he came with new shoes instead of without them?
The preposition með (with) doesn't take the genitive case. When used to mean carrying or wearing something, it takes the dative case. The sentence would change to: Hann kemur með nýjum skóm.
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