Question words: hver, hvað, hvar, hvenær, hvers vegna, hvernig, hvaða
Can form questions using Icelandic question words with correct V2 word order
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Hvað heitir þú?
What is your name?
Hvar er næsta hótel?
Where is the nearest hotel?
Hvers vegna ertu hér?
Why are you here?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Íslensk spurnarorð (question words):
| Spurnarorð | Merking | Dæmi |
|---|---|---|
| Hver? | Who? | Hver er þetta? (Who is this?) |
| Hvað? | What? | Hvað gerir þú? (What do you do?) |
| Hvar? | Where? | Hvar ertu? (Where are you?) |
| Hvenær? | When? | Hvenær kemur þú? (When are you coming?) |
| Hvers vegna? | Why? | Hvers vegna? (Why?) |
| Hvernig? | How? | Hvernig hefur þú það? (How are you?) |
| Hvaða? | Which?/What kind? | Hvaða bók? (Which book?) |
| Hversu? | How (much/many)? | Hversu margir? (How many?) |
Orðaröð: Spurnarorð + sagnorð + frumlag: Hvar er Anna? (Where is Anna?). Sagnorðið kemur alltaf á öðru sæti (V2 reglan).
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesHvað heitir þú?
What is your name?
Hvað = what. Heitir = are called (2nd sg of heita). Literally: 'What are-called you?'
Hvar er næsta hótel?
Where is the nearest hotel?
Hvar = where. Næsta = nearest (neuter weak form). V2: question word + verb + subject.
Hvers vegna ertu hér?
Why are you here?
Hvers vegna = why (literally 'for what reason'). Ertu = er + þú contracted. Common in speech.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises