Question 1

Why does this sentence use annar and hinn instead of standard words for "one" and "the other"?

Accepted Answer

This sentence is talking about exactly two options. Just like the question word hvor (which of two) you are learning in this lesson, Icelandic uses a special pair of words for statements about exactly two things: annar (one) and hinn (the other). If there were three or more options, you would use a different combination, like einn (one) and annar (another).

Question 2

Why does the noun have a "the" attached to it (valkosturinn)? The translation just says "One option".

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, when you use annar to mean "one of the two", the noun that follows must have the definite article attached to it. So, annar valkosturinn literally looks like "one the-option", but we translate it into natural English as "one option" or "one of the options".

Question 3

Why do annar, réttur, hinn, and rangur all have similar endings?

Accepted Answer

They are all grammatically linking back to the noun valkostur (option). Because valkostur is a masculine noun acting as the subject of the sentence, all the pronouns (annar, hinn) and adjectives (réttur, rangur) that describe it must take the masculine nominative (subject) endings.

Question 4

What are the two parts that make up the word valkosturinn?

Accepted Answer

It is a compound word made of val (choice, related to the verb velja, to choose) and kostur (an option, choice, or condition). Together, they strongly emphasize an alternative or choice you can make, and the -inn at the end is the attached word for "the".

Annar valkosturinn er réttur, en hinn er rangur.

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