Breakdown of Það var fyrirsætan sem sýndi djarfan kjól.
vera
to be
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
sýna
to show
kjóllinn
the dress
sem
who / which / that
fyrirsætan
the model
djarfur
bold
Questions & Answers about Það var fyrirsætan sem sýndi djarfan kjól.
What is the purpose of using Það var ... sem in this sentence?
Why is fyrirsætan in the nominative case here?
In a cleft sentence, the emphasized word takes the same case it would have in a normal, non-cleft sentence. Since the model is the one doing the showing (the subject of the action), fyrirsætan remains in the nominative case.
What is the base form of fyrirsætan, and why does it end in -n?
The base word is fyrirsæta (a model), which is a weak feminine noun. To say the model in the nominative case, you just add the definite article -n to the end, giving you fyrirsætan.
Why do we say djarfan kjól instead of djarfur kjóll?
Kjóll (a dress) is a masculine noun. Because it is the direct object receiving the action of sýndi (showed), it must be in the accusative case, dropping the second L to become kjól. The adjective djarfur (bold) has to agree with it, so it takes the masculine accusative ending -an to become djarfan.
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