Breakdown of Flestir kristallanna eru litlir, þannig að rannsóknin er erfið.
vera
to be
lítill
small / a little (small amount)
rannsóknin
the examination
erfiður
difficult
þannig að
so / with the result that
flestur
most
kristallinn
the crystal
Questions & Answers about Flestir kristallanna eru litlir, þannig að rannsóknin er erfið.
Why is kristallanna in the genitive case?
It is used with the quantifier flestir (most) to form the partitive genitive, meaning 'most of the crystals'. While you might hear af kristallunum in casual speech, using the genitive plural is the standard way to express 'most of' a specific group in written or formal Icelandic.
How would this sentence change if it just meant 'Most crystals are small' (in general)?
You would drop the partitive genitive entirely. Instead of saying 'most of the crystals', you just make 'most crystals' the subject in the nominative: flestir kristallar eru litlir.
What dictates the form of the adjective litlir (small) here?
litlir is in the masculine plural nominative to agree with the subject of the clause, which is the quantifier flestir. Even though kristallanna is in the genitive, the grammatical subject controlling the verb and the adjective is flestir.
Can þannig að ever trigger the subjunctive mood?
Yes, but not in this sentence. When þannig að expresses a result ('so', 'therefore'), it takes the indicative, as seen here with er. It only takes the subjunctive when it expresses purpose or intent ('in order that').
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