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Það eru þrjú bréf hér.

Það eru þrjú bréf hér.
There are three letters here.
From Lesson 31:Number agreement 1 to 4 (einn, tveir…)·Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Það eru þrjú bréf hér.

Why is the word for three þrjú here instead of þrír?
In Icelandic, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 change their form to match the gender of the noun they are counting. The word for letter, bréf, is a neuter noun. Because of this, we must use the neuter form for the number three, which is þrjú.
Doesn't bréf just mean letter in the singular? Why doesn't it have a plural ending?
Many neuter nouns in Icelandic look exactly the same in both the singular and the plural! You can tell it means plural letters in this sentence because of the plural verb eru (are) and the number þrjú (three).
Why does the sentence start with Það if that word normally means it?
While það usually means it, it is also used as a placeholder word just like there in English. When you want to say there is or there are, you use það er or það eru. Since we are talking about multiple letters, we use the plural það eru.

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