Breakdown of Dýrið er ósýnilegt í myrkrinu.
vera
to be
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
dýrið
the animal
myrkrið
the darkness
ósýnilegur
invisible
Questions & Answers about Dýrið er ósýnilegt í myrkrinu.
How is the word ósýnilegt formed?
It uses the negative prefix ó- (un-/in-) attached to the adjective sýnilegur (visible). Because it describes dýrið (the animal), which is a neuter noun, the adjective takes the neuter singular nominative ending -t, giving us ósýnilegt (invisible).
What is the root of the adjective sýnilegur before the ó- is added?
Why does the preposition í take the dative case here with myrkrinu?
The preposition í takes the dative case when it describes a stationary location or a state (being in the dark), rather than movement towards a destination (which would take the accusative). Since the animal is simply existing in the dark, the dative is required.
Why does the word for darkness (myrkur) change to myrkrinu?
Myrkur is a neuter noun. In the dative case, the -ur drops and it becomes myrkri. To say in the dark, you add the neuter dative definite article -nu, resulting in myrkrinu.
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