Question 1

Why is the word order sem sungið var instead of sem var sungið?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of stylistic fronting, which is the main focus of this lesson. In relative clauses starting with sem, Icelandic often moves the past participle (sungið) in front of the auxiliary verb (var). While sem var sungið is completely correct and normal in everyday speech, sem sungið var sounds slightly more formal or literary and is very common in written Icelandic.

Question 2

Why is the participle in the form sungið rather than sunginn?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic passive constructions, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject it refers to. Since it refers back to kvæðið (a neuter, singular noun), the participle of syngja must also be in its neuter singular form, which is sungið.

Question 3

Why is veislunni in the dative case?

Accepted Answer

The preposition í takes the dative case when it describes a static location or an event where something is happening (meaning 'at' or 'in'). Since the singing took place at the feast, there is no movement towards a new destination, so the dative form veislunni is required.

Question 4

Could I use ljóðið instead of kvæðið here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both words mean 'the poem', but they have slightly different flavors. Kvæði historically refers to traditional, often narrative poems that were meant to be chanted or sung. Ljóð is the more common, general word for modern poetry. Because this sentence specifically mentions the poem being sung, kvæðið is a very natural choice.

Þetta er kvæðið sem sungið var í veislunni.

Breakdown of Þetta er kvæðið sem sungið var í veislunni.

Questions & Answers about Þetta er kvæðið sem sungið var í veislunni.

Learn Þetta er kvæðið sem sungið var í veislunni and more in Icelandic