Breakdown of Er bróðir þinn að alast upp hérna?
vera
to be
að
to (infinitive marker)
bróðirinn
the brother
þinn
your (m, f, n: þinn, þín, þitt)
hérna
here (colloquial, pointing)
alast upp
to grow up
Questions & Answers about Er bróðir þinn að alast upp hérna?
Does bróðir change its spelling if it's the object of a sentence instead of the subject?
Yes! Here, bróðir is the subject, so it is in the nominative case. Kinship words ending in -ir are highly irregular. If it were the object (accusative or dative) or showing possession (genitive), it would change to bróður for all three of those cases in the singular.
Why does the verb alast end in -st?
The -st ending shows it is in the middle voice. The standard active verb is ala, which means to raise or to nourish (someone else). Adding -st makes it reflexive or passive, so alast means to be raised or to grow up.
Is upp part of the verb?
Yes, alast upp is a fixed phrase meaning to grow up. Just like in English, the particle upp combines with the verb to create this specific meaning.
Why is the possessive pronoun placed after the noun (bróðir þinn) instead of before it?
In Icelandic, possessive pronouns naturally follow the noun in a neutral sentence. If you put it in front (þinn bróðir), it adds heavy emphasis, as if you were asking if your brother is growing up here, as opposed to someone else's.
What is the difference between using hérna and just hér?
They both mean here and are usually interchangeable. Hérna is very common in spoken Icelandic and often feels a bit more specific, like saying right here, while hér is slightly more formal or general.
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