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Eru steinarnir stórir?

Eru steinarnir stórir?
Are the stones big?
From Lesson 28:Definite plural nouns (-nir, -nar, -in)·Icelandic

Breakdown of Eru steinarnir stórir?

vera
to be
stór
big
steinninn
the stone

Questions & Answers about Eru steinarnir stórir?

How is steinarnir formed from the dictionary word steinn?
First, we make the masculine noun steinn (stone) plural by adding -ar, giving us steinar (stones). Then, to say "the stones", we add the masculine plural definite ending -nir. This gives us steinarnir.
Why does the adjective stórir have an -ir at the end?
Adjectives in Icelandic have to match the noun they describe. Because steinarnir is masculine and plural, the adjective stór (big) has to take the masculine plural ending -ir, making it stórir.
Since steinarnir means "the stones", why don't we use a definite form for the adjective?
When an adjective comes after a verb like "to be" (as it does here with Eru), it acts as a description rather than being attached directly to the noun. In these cases, the adjective always stays in its standard, indefinite form (stórir).
Why does the sentence start with the verb Eru?
To make a yes/no question in Icelandic, you simply swap the verb and the subject. A normal statement would be Steinarnir eru stórir (The stones are big). Putting Eru first turns it into a question.

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