Breakdown of Ekkjan fær helminginn af arfinum.
fá
to get
af
of (in quantity expressions)
helmingurinn
the half
ekkjan
the widow
arfurinn
the inheritance
Questions & Answers about Ekkjan fær helminginn af arfinum.
Why use the noun helminginn here instead of the adjective hálfur?
The noun helmingur is used when talking about a half as a distinct portion or share of a whole, usually followed by af (of). The adjective hálfur is used to describe a noun directly, like saying half an apple (hálft epli). Since she is getting a specific portion of the inheritance, the noun is the right choice.
Why is helmingur in the definite form (helminginn)?
When Icelandic refers to half of a specific, defined thing, it typically adds the definite article to the word for half, literally saying the half of the inheritance. It is in the accusative case here (helminginn) because it is the direct object of the verb fá (to get).
Why is the word for inheritance (arfur) written as arfinum?
The preposition af always governs the dative case. The masculine noun arfur (inheritance) with the definite article attached is arfurinn in the nominative case, but it changes to arfinum in the dative case.
What is the infinitive of the verb fær and why does its vowel change?
The infinitive is fá (to get). It is a strong verb that undergoes a predictable vowel shift in the present tense for singular subjects. The vowel á shifts to æ, making it fær for he, she, or it (in this case, the widow).
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