Question 1

Why does the sentence start with Hvort when the English translation just begins with Is?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, main-clause questions that offer two distinct choices often begin with Hvort to signal right away that an either/or scenario is coming. While it literally translates to whether, English does not use whether in main questions, so we translate it as a standard Is X or Y structure.

Question 2

What is the word order rule immediately following Hvort in this alternative question?

Accepted Answer

Because Hvort acts as the question word at the front of the sentence, it occupies the first position. The verb er must immediately follow it to satisfy the verb-second rule, resulting in the structure: question word plus verb plus subject.

Question 3

Why is there no word for there in the second half of the sentence (er smjör í honum)?

Accepted Answer

English uses dummy subjects like there to talk about existence, as in is there butter. Icelandic can use það for this, but often drops it entirely in questions or after conjunctions like eða. Simply placing the verb er before the indefinite noun smjör perfectly expresses is there butter.

Question 4

Why does the sentence end with honum instead of a neutral word for it?

Accepted Answer

Pronouns in Icelandic must always match the grammatical gender of the noun they refer back to. Because matur is a masculine noun, the sentence uses the masculine pronoun hann. It takes the dative form honum here because it is governed by the preposition í.

Hvort er þessi matur mjólkurlaus eða er smjör í honum?

Breakdown of Hvort er þessi matur mjólkurlaus eða er smjör í honum?

Questions & Answers about Hvort er þessi matur mjólkurlaus eða er smjör í honum?

Learn Hvort er þessi matur mjólkurlaus eða er smjör í honum and more in Icelandic