Learn Icelandic: Áheyrnarprufan fyrir hæfileikakeppnina byrjar núna. - The audition for the talent show is starting now.

Áheyrnarprufan links áheyrn (hearing) and prufa (test) using the genitive joining ending -ar, plus the feminine definite article -n. Hæfileikakeppnina links hæfileiki (talent) and keppni (competition), ending with the feminine accusative definite article -na.

Why is hæfileikakeppnina in the accusative case instead of the dative?

The preposition fyrir governs the accusative case when it means for an intended purpose or goal, like an audition for a show. It only takes the dative case when it refers to location (in front of) or time (ago).

Why does the sentence use núna instead of just nú?

Both mean now, but núna places a much stronger emphasis on the action happening right now or at this exact moment. Since it is a natural time word, it is already an adverb and does not need the neuter adjective endings you are practicing in this lesson.

The English translation uses the continuous tense is starting. Why doesn't the Icelandic sentence use a continuous structure?