Learn Icelandic: Þetta eru tveir tómatar.

Þetta eru tveir tómatar.

These are two tomatoes.

Breakdown of Þetta eru tveir tómatar.

Questions & Answers about Þetta eru tveir tómatar.

Why do we use tveir instead of tvær or tvö?

In Icelandic, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 change to match the gender of the noun they count. Because tómatar (tomatoes) is a masculine noun, we have to use the masculine form for two, which is tveir. If we were counting feminine nouns, we would use tvær, and for neuter nouns, tvö.

Why is Þetta used for "These" here? Doesn't Þetta mean "This"?

Yes, Þetta usually means "this". But when you introduce or point to things by saying "These are...", Icelandic keeps the pronoun in the neuter singular form (Þetta) and just makes the verb plural (eru). You literally say "This are two tomatoes."

How can I tell that tómatar is a masculine noun?

The singular form is tómatur. That -ur ending is a very common sign of a masculine noun. When it becomes plural, the -ur changes to -ar to become tómatar.

Why is the phrase tveir tómatar in the nominative case?

The verb eru comes from vera (to be). This verb acts like an equals sign rather than an action. Because there is no action being done to the tomatoes, they stay in the basic dictionary form, which is the nominative case.