Breakdown of Siðferðið fjallar um dyggðina og löstinn.
og
and
um
about
fjalla
to discuss
siðferðið
the morality
dyggðin
the virtue
lösturinn
the vice
Questions & Answers about Siðferðið fjallar um dyggðina og löstinn.
Why do siðferðið, dyggðina, and löstinn all have definite articles when the English translation says 'morality', 'virtue', and 'vice'?
In Icelandic, abstract nouns used in a general, all-encompassing sense take the definite article. English drops the article for general concepts (like 'morality'), but Icelandic keeps it (siðferðið).
Could we use the hið + adjective structure from this lesson to express 'virtue and vice' here?
Yes! Instead of using the dedicated nouns dyggð and löstur, you could use abstract nominalisation with adjectives to mean 'the good and the evil'. You would say hið góða og hið illa. Because um takes the accusative, the neuter article remains hið and the weak adjective keeps its -a ending.
Why are dyggðina and löstinn in the accusative case?
They are governed by the preposition um. When um means 'about' or 'concerning' (as it does with the verb fjalla, meaning 'to discuss' or 'deal with'), it always dictates the accusative case.
How does the word löstur (vice) become löstinn here?
Löstur is a masculine noun. In the accusative case, it drops the nominative -ur ending, becoming löst. When you attach the masculine accusative definite article -inn, you get löstinn.
Learn Siðferðið fjallar um dyggðina og löstinn and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free