Questions & Answers about Þetta ilmvatn er meira heillandi en hitt.
Why do we use meira heillandi instead of a single comparative word like "heillandari"?
Heillandi (fascinating) is a present participle, recognizable by the -andi ending. In Icelandic, present participles never take the standard comparative or superlative endings (like -ari or -ast). Instead, you must use the analytical method, placing meira (more) or mest (most) before the word.
Does meira change its form to match the neuter noun ilmvatn?
No. When used this way to compare adjectives, meira acts as an adverb of degree. Adverbs do not change their form to match gender, number, or case. It remains meira whether you are talking about a neuter noun like ilmvatn or a masculine noun like maður.
Why does the sentence end with hitt rather than annað for "the other one"?
What dictates the gender of the pronouns þetta and hitt here?