Breakdown of Læknirinn hlustar á brjóst sjúklingsins.
læknirinn
the doctor
hlusta
to listen
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
sjúklingurinn
the patient
brjóstið
the chest
Questions & Answers about Læknirinn hlustar á brjóst sjúklingsins.
How do we get the form sjúklingsins from the dictionary word sjúklingur?
This is the genitive (possessive) form with the definite article attached. First, the masculine noun sjúklingur (patient) drops its -ur ending and takes an -s to show possession, becoming sjúklings. Then, we add the masculine genitive definite article -ins, giving us sjúklingsins.
Why is the word order brjóst sjúklingsins instead of the other way around?
In Icelandic, possession is typically shown by putting the possessor (in the genitive case) directly after the thing being owned. The structure literally translates to chest the patient's rather than the patient's chest.
Why is brjóst lacking a definite article even though it is a specific chest?
When an Icelandic noun is followed by a possessor in the genitive case, the first noun usually drops its definite article. Saying brjóstið sjúklingsins sounds unnatural because the specific owner (sjúklingsins) already makes it completely clear which chest is meant.
Does the phrase hlusta á always take the accusative case?
Yes, the verb phrase hlusta á (to listen to) always forces the noun that follows it into the accusative case. Because brjóst (chest) is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its dictionary form.
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