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Þetta eru fjögur kerti.

Þetta eru fjögur kerti.
These are four candles.
From Lesson 31:Number agreement 1 to 4 (einn, tveir…)·Icelandic

Breakdown of Þetta eru fjögur kerti.

þetta
this
vera
to be
fjórir
four
kertið
the candle

Questions & Answers about Þetta eru fjögur kerti.

Why is the number four written as fjögur here instead of fjórir?
In Icelandic, the numbers 1 through 4 change their form to match the gender of the noun they are counting. The noun kerti (candle) is neuter. Therefore, we must use the neuter form of the number four, which is fjögur (instead of the masculine fjórir or feminine fjórar).
Why does the word kerti look exactly the same as it does in the singular?
Kerti is a neuter noun. In Icelandic, many neuter nouns look exactly the same in the plural as they do in the singular. You can only tell it means 'candles' here because of the plural verb eru and the number fjögur.
If there are multiple candles, why do we use þetta (this) instead of a plural word for 'these'?
When introducing or pointing to things using 'This is...' or 'These are...', Icelandic always uses the fixed neuter singular word þetta. It doesn't change to match the gender or number of the objects being introduced.
Since þetta is singular, why is the verb eru (are) in the plural?
Even though the introductory word þetta stays singular, the verb vera (to be) must agree with the actual items you are pointing out. Because you are pointing to four candles, the verb becomes the plural eru, making the phrase Þetta eru....

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