Breakdown of Það er ofgnótt af þessari vöru og offramboðið er mikið.
vera
to be
og
and
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
þessi
this (m/f)
mikill
great, much (adjective: snjórinn er mikill)
af
of (in quantity expressions)
varan
the product
ofgnóttin
the superabundance
offramboðið
the oversupply
Questions & Answers about Það er ofgnótt af þessari vöru og offramboðið er mikið.
How does the prefix of- change the meaning of the nouns in this sentence?
The prefix of- indicates an excess or extreme amount of something, directly translating to the English prefix 'over-'. In this sentence, it attaches to gnótt (abundance or plenty) to create ofgnótt (glut or overabundance), and to framboð (supply) to create offramboð (oversupply).
Why is the phrase þessari vöru in the dative case?
The preposition af (meaning 'of' or 'from' in this context) always forces the noun that follows it into the dative case. The base feminine noun vara (product) becomes vöru, and the demonstrative pronoun þessi (this) changes to its feminine dative singular form, þessari.
Why does the sentence begin with Það er rather than just starting with the subject?
This is an example of a dummy subject, which works just like 'There is' in English. Icelandic uses Það er to introduce the existence of something new to the listener, which shifts the actual subject (ofgnótt) slightly later into the sentence.
Why does the adjective mikið end in '-ið'? Is it a definite article?
No, the '-ið' on mikið is not a definite article. It is the standard neuter singular nominative ending for the adjective mikill (great or much). It takes this neuter form to properly agree with the neuter noun it describes, which is offramboðið (the oversupply).
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