Breakdown of Hann kaupir ekki gæðavöruna nema hún sé endingargóð.
vera
to be
hún
she
hann
he
ekki
not
kaupa
to buy
nema
except, unless
gæðavaran
the quality product
endingargóður
durable
Questions & Answers about Hann kaupir ekki gæðavöruna nema hún sé endingargóð.
Why is the verb sé used here instead of er?
The conjunction nema, when it means "unless", triggers the subjunctive mood in Icelandic. sé is the present subjunctive form of vera (to be), used here because the product's durability is a hypothetical condition rather than a guaranteed fact.
How would I apply this lesson's topic to say "unless it is twice as durable"?
You would use a multiplicative word like helmingi or the phrase tvisvar sinnum (two times) followed by the comparative form of the adjective, which is endingarbetri. The clause would become: ...nema hún sé helmingi endingarbetri.
Why does the sentence use the pronoun hún for an inanimate product?
Pronouns in Icelandic always match the grammatical gender of the noun they refer back to. The word for product, vara, is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine pronoun hún (she) rather than the neuter það (it).
How is the compound word gæðavöruna put together?
It combines gæði (quality) and vara (product). The first part is in the genitive plural form (gæða), making it literally "product of qualities". Finally, the feminine accusative definite article -na is attached because it is the direct object of the verb kaupir.
What makes up the adjective endingargóð?
It is formed by combining the noun ending (lifespan or duration) in the genitive case (endingar) with the adjective góð (good), literally meaning "duration-good". It stays in the feminine nominative form to agree with the subject of its clause, hún.
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