Question 1

How does the "one... another" structure work here?

Accepted Answer

The words ein and önnur pair up to create the contrast "one... another". Because they both refer to the noun útgáfa (version), which is feminine, both of these pronouns must be in the feminine nominative singular form.

Question 2

Why does útgáfan have the definite article attached if the English translation is just "One version"?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, using the word einn (one) followed by a noun in the definite form literally means "one of the [nouns]". So, ein útgáfan strictly means "one of the versions". English often just says "one version" when making contrasts like this, but Icelandic prefers the definite structure.

Question 3

How do we know the gender of einkenni (characteristic) just by looking at this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You can spot its gender by looking at the words that agree with it! It is a neuter noun, which is why it is paired with the neuter word þetta (this). In the second half of the sentence, it is also referred to with the neuter pronoun það (it).

Question 4

Could we say önnur útgáfa in the second half instead of just önnur?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's not necessary. Just like in English, if the noun is already obvious from the context, you can drop it. Because the pronoun önnur is already feminine and singular, it perfectly echoes the missing word útgáfa.

Ein útgáfan hefur þetta einkenni, en önnur hefur það ekki.

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