Breakdown of Ekki einu sinni prófessorinn notar kennslubókina.
ekki
not
nota
to use
einu sinni
once
prófessorinn
the professor
kennslubókin
the textbook
Questions & Answers about Ekki einu sinni prófessorinn notar kennslubókina.
Wait, Icelandic is a V2 language. Why isn't the verb notar right after Ekki einu sinni?
In this sentence, ekki einu sinni attaches directly to the noun prófessorinn. Together, they form a single block that occupies the first position in the sentence. Because the whole phrase Ekki einu sinni prófessorinn acts as position one, the verb notar correctly sits in position two.
What is the literal translation of ekki einu sinni?
It literally translates to not one time or not once. The phrase einu sinni is normally used to mean once, but when combined with ekki to focus on a noun, the entire phrase takes on the meaning of not even.
Could I put ekki einu sinni later in the sentence instead of at the very beginning?
Yes, but it would change the meaning slightly. If you said Prófessorinn notar ekki einu sinni kennslubókina, it means The professor does not even use the textbook, shifting the focus away from the professor and onto the action or the book. Putting it at the front attaches it to the subject to emphasize that not even the professor uses it.
Why does kennslubók end in -ina here instead of -in?
The verb nota (to use) takes a direct object in the accusative case. Since the noun kennslubók (textbook) is feminine, its definite accusative ending is -ina, giving us kennslubókina. If it were the subject of the sentence, it would be the nominative kennslubókin.
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