Breakdown of Úr krananum kemur kalt ferskvatn.
koma
to come
kaldur
cold
úr
out of
kraninn
the crane
ferskvatnið
the freshwater
Questions & Answers about Úr krananum kemur kalt ferskvatn.
Why is there no dummy word 'það' in this sentence?
If this sentence were in the default word order, it would start with the dummy pronoun það because the real subject (kalt ferskvatn) is indefinite: Það kemur kalt ferskvatn úr krananum (There comes cold fresh water from the tap). But when we move a phrase like Úr krananum to the front, the verb kemur must take the second position, and the dummy það is completely dropped. Icelandic does not allow you to keep it here.
Why use the preposition 'úr' instead of 'frá' for 'from'?
Úr specifically means 'out of' something that acts as a container or source, whereas frá means 'away from' a general location. Since the water is physically flowing out from inside the tap, úr is the correct choice. It forces the dative case, changing the noun krani (tap) to krananum.
Why is the subject 'kalt ferskvatn' at the end of the sentence?
In Icelandic, it is very common to place new or indefinite information at the end of the sentence for emphasis or flow. Because the phrase Úr krananum was moved to the front (which drops the það), the verb kemur stays in the second position to satisfy the V2 rule, naturally pushing the subject kalt ferskvatn to the end.
Why does the adjective 'kalt' stand alone while 'fersk' is attached to 'vatn'?
Ferskvatn is a compound noun meaning 'freshwater', so it is written as one word. The separate adjective kalt (cold) modifies that entire compound noun. Since vatn is a neuter noun, the adjective takes the neuter form kalt.
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