Questions & Answers about Innkaupið er of dýrt nema útsalan sé góð.
Why is the verb sé used here instead of er?
The conjunction nema (unless) triggers the subjunctive mood in Icelandic. Because the condition is contingent or hypothetical, you must use sé (the present subjunctive of vera) rather than the indicative er.
Does nema always mean 'unless' and take the subjunctive?
It means 'unless' when used as a conjunction introducing a new clause, which is when it takes the subjunctive. However, nema can also act as a preposition meaning 'except', in which case it is followed by a noun in the dative case (for example, allir nema barninu - everyone except the child).
I usually see innkaup used in the plural. Is it normal to use the singular innkaupið?
Yes! While innkaup is most frequently seen in the plural (innkaupin) to mean 'shopping' or a batch of groceries in general, it is used in the singular when referring to one single, specific purchase or transaction.
Why does dýrt end in '-t' here?
The adjective must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it describes. Since innkaupið is a neuter singular noun in the nominative case, the adjective dýr (expensive) takes the neuter singular nominative ending to become dýrt.