Question 1

Why are the words "herbergið" and "dótið" in the "the" form when we are saying "their room" and "his stuff"?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, possession is usually shown by putting the possessor word after the noun, and adding the definite ("the") ending to that noun. So, instead of saying "room their", you literally say "the room their" (herbergið þeirra) and "the stuff his" (dótið hans).

Question 2

Do the words "þeirra" and "hans" change to match the gender of the room or the stuff?

Accepted Answer

No, and that makes them very easy to use! Because hans (his), hennar (her), and þeirra (their) are genitive pronouns, they only reflect the person who owns the item. They never change their form to match the noun they are attached to.

Question 3

Why does "herbergið" only add a "-ð" for "the", but "dótið" adds "-ið"?

Accepted Answer

Both herbergi (room) and dót (stuff) are neuter nouns. Because herbergi already ends in a vowel, it just takes a -ð to become herbergið. Since dót ends in a consonant, it needs the full -ið ending to become dótið.

Question 4

Since both room and stuff are neuter nouns, is that why we use the neuter word "Þetta" for "This"?

Accepted Answer

Actually, no! When you point to something and say "This is...", you always use the general neuter form Þetta er, regardless of the gender or even how many things come after it. It just works as a general "This thing here is..." introduction.

Þetta er herbergið þeirra og dótið hans.

Breakdown of Þetta er herbergið þeirra og dótið hans.

Questions & Answers about Þetta er herbergið þeirra og dótið hans.

Learn Þetta er herbergið þeirra og dótið hans and more in Icelandic