Breakdown of Hvenær byrjar slátturinn? Hann byrjar venjulega miðsumars.
hann
he
hvenær
when
venjulega
usually
byrja
to start
slátturinn
the haymaking
miðsumars
in midsummer
Questions & Answers about Hvenær byrjar slátturinn? Hann byrjar venjulega miðsumars.
Why does the sentence use the genitive form miðsumars here?
Why is the pronoun hann used to mean 'it' here instead of það?
Pronouns in Icelandic always match the grammatical gender of the noun they replace. Because sláttur (haymaking) is a masculine noun, the sentence uses the masculine pronoun hann to say 'it starts', rather than the neuter það.
What verb is the noun sláttur related to?
It comes from the verb slá, which primarily means 'to hit' but is also the specific word used for mowing grass or cutting hay. The noun sláttur refers to the act or season of haymaking.
Is there another way to say 'in midsummer' without using the genitive?
Yes, you can use the preposition um followed by the accusative case, as in um miðsumar. However, using the genitive form miðsumars is a very common, fixed phrase for this time of year.
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