Breakdown of Barnið er að leika úti núna.
vera
to be
barnið
the child
úti
outside
núna
now
að
to (infinitive marker)
leika
to play (as a child, act)
Questions & Answers about Barnið er að leika úti núna.
How does this sentence form the present continuous tense for is playing?
It uses the verb vera (to be) conjugated as er for the child, followed by the word að, and then the infinitive verb leika (to play). The structure er að leika is the standard way to express that an action is currently happening right now in Icelandic.
Why is the word for the child Barnið instead of just Barn?
In Icelandic, the definite article (the word for the) attaches to the end of the noun. The base word is barn (a child), which is a neuter noun. By adding the neuter ending -ið, we get barnið (the child).
Could I use the word spila instead of leika for playing here?
No. The verb leika is used for unstructured children's play, like running around or using imagination. If the child were playing a structured game with rules, a sport, or a musical instrument, you would use spila instead.
Why does the sentence use úti for outside instead of út?
The word úti is used when someone or something is already located outside. You would use út if there was motion directed towards the outside, like a child running out the door. Since the child is already outside playing, úti is the correct choice.
Learn Barnið er að leika úti núna and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free