Breakdown of Ég ætla að nota naglalakkið og maskarann í kvöld.
og
and
ég
I
að
to (infinitive marker)
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
kvöldið
the evening
nota
to use
ætla
to intend
maskarinn
the mascara
naglalakkið
the nail polish
Questions & Answers about Ég ætla að nota naglalakkið og maskarann í kvöld.
Why do naglalakkið and maskarann have different endings if they both have the definite article for "the" attached?
They belong to different grammatical genders, and both are in the accusative case because they are the objects of the verb nota (to use). Naglalakk is a neuter noun, so it takes the accusative definite ending -ið. Maskari is a masculine noun. Its accusative form is maskara, and adding the masculine definite article makes it maskarann.
Could naglalakkið and maskarann mean "my nail polish" and "my mascara" in this context?
Yes! In Icelandic, it is very common to use the definite article instead of a possessive pronoun when it is obvious from the context who the items belong to. For personal items like makeup, clothing, or body parts, using "the" instead of a possessive word like "my" is the standard way to express possession.
Why is the future tense expressed with ætla að here?
The verb ætla literally means "to intend," but it is the most common way to express the future tense in Icelandic for personal plans or things you have already decided to do. Therefore, ég ætla að nota translates naturally to "I am going to use."
Why use í kvöld for "tonight" instead of í nótt?
In Icelandic, kvöld (evening) covers the time from dinner until you go to bed. If you are getting ready for a party or an evening out, you use í kvöld (this evening / tonight). The phrase í nótt specifically refers to the deep night when people are generally asleep.
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