Breakdown of Vafinn er mikill.
vera
to be
mikill
great, much (adjective: snjórinn er mikill)
vafinn
the doubt
Questions & Answers about Vafinn er mikill.
What is the base form of the word vafinn?
The base word is vafi, which is a masculine noun meaning "doubt". The -nn at the end is the attached definite article ("the"), making it "the doubt". Because vafi already ends in a vowel, it just takes -nn instead of the full -inn suffix.
Why is the adjective mikill used here instead of mikið?
Adjectives must match the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Since vafi is a masculine noun in the nominative (subject) case, the adjective must take the masculine nominative form, which is mikill. You would use mikið if you were describing a neuter noun.
In English, "the doubt is great" sounds a bit formal. Is this a normal thing to say in Icelandic?
Yes! In Icelandic, it is very common to use the adjective mikill (great or much) to describe abstract nouns like doubt, interest, or joy. Where English speakers might use "There is a lot of...", Icelanders naturally say Vafinn er mikill.
How does the word vafi connect to the current lesson about hvort (whether)?
The noun vafi (doubt) is a common trigger for indirect yes/no questions. You will often see it followed by a hvort clause to express exactly what is being doubted, such as in the phrase Það er mikill vafi hvort... (There is a lot of doubt whether...).
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