Questions & Answers about Þetta er gott borð.
Why is the word for good spelled gott instead of góður here?
Adjectives in Icelandic change their endings to match the gender of the noun they describe. The noun borð (table) is neuter. While góður is the masculine form, we must use the neuter form gott to match the neuter noun borð.
What does strong declension mean for adjectives in this sentence?
Strong declension is just the grammar term for how adjectives behave when they describe an indefinite noun (a noun that means a table rather than the table). Because we are saying a good table, we use the strong neuter form gott.
Why do we use Þetta for this?
Just like adjectives, pointing words like this must match the gender of the noun they refer to. Because borð is a neuter noun, we use the neuter word þetta. If the noun were masculine or feminine, we would use þessi instead.
There is no word for a in this sentence. How do we know it means a good table?
Icelandic does not have a separate word for a or an. If a noun like borð does not have the definite the ending attached to the end of it, it is automatically indefinite. Therefore, gott borð translates naturally to a good table.
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