Breakdown of Við eigum þrjár pönnukökur en bara tvær smákökur.
en
but
bara
just / only
við
we
tveir
two
þrír
three
eiga
to own / to have (a relationship)
pönnukakan
the pancake
smákakan
the cookie
Questions & Answers about Við eigum þrjár pönnukökur en bara tvær smákökur.
Why are the numbers þrjár (three) and tvær (two) used instead of the default masculine or neuter forms?
In Icelandic, the numbers 1-4 change to match the gender of the noun they describe. Both pönnukökur (pancakes) and smákökur (cookies) are feminine nouns, so we must use the feminine plural forms þrjár and tvær.
Does the verb eigum (we have) affect the case of the numbers in this sentence?
Yes, the verb eiga forces the things being owned into the accusative case. However, for the numbers two through four, the feminine accusative forms (tvær, þrjár, fjórar) happen to be exactly the same as their dictionary (nominative) forms. So they are technically in the accusative case here, even though the words themselves don't look changed!
Both food words end in -kökur. How does this plural form relate to the singular?
Why does the sentence use eigum instead of höfum for "we have"?
The verb eiga is used when you physically own or possess something, including physical objects, pets, or food in your kitchen. The other verb for "to have" is hafa, but that is mostly used for abstract concepts (like having an idea or a cold) or as a helping verb (like "we have eaten").
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