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Questions & Answers about Finnur kötturinn fuglana?
Why does this sentence start with the verb finnur?
In Icelandic, yes/no questions are formed by putting the verb first. You can think of it as saying 'Finds the cat the birds?' since Icelandic doesn't use helper words like 'do' or 'does' for questions.
How do we get fuglana from the dictionary word fugl?
Fugl is a masculine noun. In the accusative plural, the bare form for 'birds' is fugla. To say 'the birds' (definite), you add the suffix -na, giving you fuglana.
Why are the birds in the accusative case here?
Because the birds are the direct object of the sentence—they are the ones being found. The verb finna (to find) requires its object to be in the accusative case.
Why is kötturinn (the cat) in the nominative case instead of the accusative?
The cat is the subject of the sentence, meaning it is the one doing the finding. In Icelandic, the subject performing the action stays in the nominative case, which is why it uses the nominative definite ending -inn.