Question 1

Why is it fimm hundruð and not fimm hundrað?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, the word for hundred (hundrað) acts like a regular noun. Because we are talking about five hundreds, it has to take its plural form, which is hundruð. This is different from English, where we never say "five hundreds" when giving a specific number.

Question 2

If hundrað changes to plural, why doesn't þúsund change?

Accepted Answer

Actually, it does! The word þúsund (thousand) is also a neuter noun, just like hundrað. However, the plural form of þúsund happens to be exactly the same as the singular form. So, it is plural here, it just doesn't look any different.

Question 3

How do you say "an amount" without "the" based on the word upphæðin?

Accepted Answer

You just take off the -in at the end. Upphæð is a feminine noun meaning "amount", and adding the definite article ending -in makes it "the amount" (upphæðin).

Question 4

Why is krónur in the nominative case instead of the accusative?

Accepted Answer

The verb vera (to be) acts like an equals sign rather than a direct action. It links the subject (upphæðin) to its description (fimm hundruð þúsund krónur). Because it doesn't take a direct object, the words that follow it stay in the nominative (default) case.

Upphæðin er fimm hundruð þúsund krónur.

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