Question 1

How does fölnaði demonstrate the -na suffix rule we are learning?

Accepted Answer

The verb fölna (to fade) is formed from the adjective fölur (pale). By dropping the masculine ending -ur and adding -na, you get a new intransitive verb meaning 'to become pale'. This is exactly how the inchoative -na suffix works.

Question 2

Are all -na verbs conjugated the same way in the past tense?

Accepted Answer

Yes, verbs derived with the -na suffix are remarkably consistent. They belong to a regular weak verb class that always takes the -aði ending in the past tense for the third-person singular, which is why we see fölnaði here.

Question 3

Why does áður en take the indicative mood (fölnaði) here instead of the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

You use the indicative after áður en when talking about two established facts that actually happened in the past. Since the car's color really did fade, the indicative is used. If the fading was a hypothetical event that you managed to prevent, you would use the subjunctive.

Question 4

Why does the demonstrative pronoun take the form þennan instead of þessa?

Accepted Answer

It is modifying bíl, which is the masculine accusative singular form of bíll (car) because it is the direct object of the verb kaupa (to buy). The pronoun þessi must agree in case, gender, and number, taking its masculine accusative singular form þennan.

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