Question 1

How does the correlative conjunction ekki bara... heldur líka work here, and do I always need líka?

Accepted Answer

It translates directly to "not only... but also". The word líka is optional, just like in English, but it adds emphasis. Notice that it smoothly coordinates two parallel adjectives here: fjölnota and ódýrt.

Question 2

Both adjectives describe the neuter noun tólið, so why does ódýrt get a neuter -t ending while fjölnota doesn't?

Accepted Answer

You are seeing two different types of adjectives coordinated together. Ódýr is a standard adjective, so it takes the neuter singular ending -t to match tólið. Fjölnota (multipurpose), however, is an indeclinable adjective. It never changes its form regardless of the noun's gender, number, or case.

Question 3

Could I use en instead of heldur for "but" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No. While en is the standard word for "but", Icelandic strictly uses heldur when introducing a contrast or addition after a negative word like ekki. You will always see heldur in the ekki bara... heldur (líka) structure.

Question 4

If I wanted to emphasize "not only" by putting it at the start of the sentence, how would the word order change?

Accepted Answer

Because Icelandic strictly follows the V2 rule (the conjugated verb must be the second element), starting with Ekki bara forces the verb er to come before the subject. It would become: Ekki bara er tólið fjölnota, heldur líka mjög ódýrt.

Tólið er ekki bara fjölnota, heldur líka mjög ódýrt.

Breakdown of Tólið er ekki bara fjölnota, heldur líka mjög ódýrt.

Questions & Answers about Tólið er ekki bara fjölnota, heldur líka mjög ódýrt.

Learn Tólið er ekki bara fjölnota, heldur líka mjög ódýrt and more in Icelandic