Breakdown of Heimspekin tengir siðferðið við hið sanna.
við
with (talking with)
sannur
true
tengja
to connect
hinn
the (formal definite article)
heimspekin
the philosophy
siðferðið
the morality
Questions & Answers about Heimspekin tengir siðferðið við hið sanna.
What grammatical structure creates the phrase hið sanna (the true)?
This is an abstract nominalisation, which is the focus of this lesson. It is formed using the free-standing neuter definite article hið followed by the weak form of an adjective, in this case sanna from sannur (true). Together, they act as an abstract noun meaning "that which is true" or simply "the true".
Why is hið sanna in the accusative case here?
The case is controlled by the preposition við. The verb phrase tengja eitthvað við eitthvað (to connect something to or with something) requires the accusative case for both the thing being connected (siðferðið) and the thing it is connected to (hið sanna).
Why do the abstract nouns heimspekin and siðferðið have definite articles attached, unlike in the English translation?
In Icelandic, abstract nouns and general concepts usually take the definite article when you are talking about them in a broad, universal sense. So while English just says "philosophy" and "morality", Icelandic effectively says "the philosophy" (heimspekin) and "the morality" (siðferðið).
What are the root words that make up heimspekin?
It is a compound of heimur (world) and speki (wisdom). So philosophy in Icelandic is literally "world-wisdom". The -n at the end is the feminine definite article attached to speki.
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