Breakdown of Hversu erfitt er sjónprófið?
vera
to be
erfiður
difficult
hversu
how (to what degree)
sjónprófið
the vision test
Questions & Answers about Hversu erfitt er sjónprófið?
Could I say Hvað erfitt instead of Hversu erfitt?
Yes, you can! Hvað is used exactly like hversu in everyday spoken Icelandic to mean 'how' before an adjective. Hversu sounds a bit more formal or written, but both are completely natural here.
Why is the adjective in the neuter form erfitt instead of the dictionary form erfiður?
Even though it is part of the question phrase at the front of the sentence, the adjective still has to match the noun it describes. Because sjónpróf (vision test) is a neuter noun, you must use the neuter form erfitt.
What makes up the word sjónprófið?
It is a compound word made of sjón (sight or vision) and próf (test or exam). The -ið tacked on the end is the neuter definite article, making it 'the vision test'.
Why does the verb er come before the subject sjónprófið?
Icelandic has a strict 'verb-second' rule. The entire question phrase Hversu erfitt counts as the first block of information. The verb er must take the second slot, which pushes the subject sjónprófið to the end.
Learn Hversu erfitt er sjónprófið and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free