Questions & Answers about Stelpan hefur ennþá ekki séð norðurljósin.
Why do both ennþá and ekki go before the main verb séð?
In the present perfect tense, adverbs like ennþá (still/yet) and the negation ekki (not) are placed right after the helping verb (hefur) and before the main action verb (séð). This is different from English, where 'yet' usually goes at the very end of the sentence.
Why is it ennþá ekki instead of ekki ennþá?
Both are actually correct! In Icelandic, ennþá ekki (literally 'still not') and ekki ennþá ('not yet') are used interchangeably. They both mean 'not yet' and fit in the exact same spot in the sentence.
Why do we use the word séð instead of sjá?
Because the sentence is in the present perfect tense ('has seen'). When using the helping verb hafa (here conjugated as hefur), the main verb must be in its supine form (the 'has done' form). For the verb sjá (to see), that form is séð.
Why does norðurljósin end in -in here?
The word norðurljós is a neuter plural noun. The -in at the end is the attached word for 'the', making it 'the northern lights'. It is in the accusative case because it is the object being seen, but for neuter words, the accusative plural looks exactly the same as the dictionary form.