Breakdown of Málarinn er búinn með spartlið.
málarinn
the painter
vera búinn með
to be finished with / to have run out of
spartlið
the spackle (n)
Questions & Answers about Málarinn er búinn með spartlið.
Why does búinn með mean "run out of" instead of just "finished with"?
When vera búinn með is used with a consumable physical substance (like spackle, milk, or paint), it means that the subject has used it all up or run out of it. If used with a task, a book, or an activity, it translates to being finished doing it.
Doesn't the preposition með usually trigger the dative case? Why is spartlið accusative here?
Normally, með takes the dative when describing what you are holding, using, or accompanied by. However, the specific idiom vera búinn með (to be out of / finished with) is an exception where með always requires the accusative case for the depleted item or completed task.
Does the word búinn change if the subject of the sentence changes?
Yes, it acts as an adjective and must agree with the subject's gender and number. Here, búinn is the masculine singular form matching the grammatical gender of Málarinn (the painter). If the subject were Hún (she), it would be Hún er búin, and for a masculine plural subject like Þeir (they), it would be Þeir eru búnir.
How can we tell that spartlið is in the accusative case just by looking at it?
We actually can't! The word spartl is a neuter noun. Neuter nouns always share the exact same spelling in both the nominative and accusative cases, even when the definite article -ið is attached. We only know it is accusative here because of the strict grammar rule tied to the vera búinn með construction.
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