Question 1

Why does the word for "your" change from þinn to þitt in the same sentence?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, possessive words like "your" have to match the gender of the noun they belong to. Both words are in the accusative case because they are being acted upon. Köttinn (the cat) is a masculine noun, so it uses the masculine accusative form þinn. Veskið (the wallet) is a neuter noun, so it uses the neuter accusative form þitt.

Question 2

Why are there "the" endings on the nouns? Doesn't the sentence translate literally to "the cat your" and "the wallet your"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it does! In Icelandic, when you put a possessive word like þinn (your) after a noun, the noun must have the definite article ("the") attached to it. So, "your cat" becomes köttinn þinn (literally "the cat your"), and "your wallet" becomes veskið þitt ("the wallet your"). This is the standard and most natural way to show ownership.

Question 3

I learned the word for cat is köttur. How did it become köttinn?

Accepted Answer

Köttur is the basic dictionary form (the nominative case). Because the cat is the direct object of the sentence (it is being looked after), the noun changes to the accusative case, which is kött. Then, we add the accusative ending for "the" (-inn), giving us köttinn (the cat).

Question 4

Why are the cat and wallet in the accusative case here to begin with?

Accepted Answer

They are in the accusative case because of the verb passa. Verbs force the object of the sentence into a specific case. When passa means "to look after" or "to watch", the things or people you are looking after always take the accusative case.

Ég passa köttinn þinn og veskið þitt.

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