Grammar Reference

Icelandic alphabet, special letters ð/þ/æ/ö, and pronunciation rules

Can recognize Icelandic special letters (ð, þ, æ, ö) and apply first-syllable stress

Personal pronouns: ég, þú, hann/hún/það, við, þið, þeir/þær/þau

Can use all Icelandic personal pronouns including the three gendered plural forms

Possessive pronouns: minn/mín/mitt, þinn/þín/þitt, hans/hennar/þess, etc.

Can use possessive pronouns correctly, placing them after the noun with gender agreement

The verb 'to be' (vera) in present tense — er, ert, erum, eruð, eru

Can conjugate vera (to be) in present tense for all persons

The verb 'to have' (hafa) in present tense — hef, hefur, höfum, hafið, hafa

Can conjugate hafa (to have) in present tense and use it for possession

Regular verb conjugation in present tense — weak verb classes with -a, -i, -ur endings

Can conjugate regular (weak) verbs in present tense across all three verb classes

Common irregular (strong) verbs: fara, koma, geta, vilja, sjá, gefa in present tense

Can conjugate common irregular verbs in present tense

Modal verbs: vilja (want), geta (can), mega (may), eiga (should), verða (must), þurfa (need)

Can use modal verbs with correct complement forms (infinitive vs supine)

How weak Icelandic verbs form the past tense with a dental ending (-aði, -di, -ti).

I can talk about completed past actions using weak verbs (Ég borðaði skyr í morgun).

How strong Icelandic verbs form the past by changing the root vowel (ablaut): fara -> fór.

I can use the past of common strong verbs (Ég fór til Akureyrar og sá hvali).

The present perfect: hafa (or vera for motion verbs) + the supine. Ég hef borðað.

I can say what I have done and where I have been (Ég hef farið til Íslands).

Expressing the future without a future tense: present + time word, ætla að, munu.

I can talk about plans and predictions (Ég ætla að fara til Íslands í sumar).

The imperative: commands fused with þú as -ðu/-du/-tu (komdu, farðu), plural -ið, negation with ekki.

I can give simple instructions and warnings (Komdu hingað! Ekki gleyma vegabréfinu!).

The suffixed definite article: -inn (m), -in (f), -ið (n) and their case forms

Can form definite nouns using the suffixed article -inn/-in/-ið

Three grammatical genders: masculine (karlkyn), feminine (kvenkyn), neuter (hvorugkyn)

Can identify the three grammatical genders of Icelandic nouns and predict gender from common endings

Weak vs strong noun declension patterns — the two main systems of Icelandic nouns

Can distinguish weak and strong noun declension patterns and apply basic case endings

Nominative case (nefnifall) for subjects and accusative case (þolfall) for direct objects

Can distinguish nominative (subject) from accusative (direct object) case and apply correct noun endings

Dative case (þágufall) for indirect objects, after certain prepositions, and with dative verbs

Can use the dative case for indirect objects, with prepositions, and with dative verbs like líka

Genitive case (eignarfall) for possession, with til, and in time expressions

Can use the genitive case for possession, after til, and in age expressions

Adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case (strong declension basics)

Can make adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number, and case in basic sentences

Comparative (-ari) and superlative (-astur) of adjectives, irregulars (stór/stærri/stærstur), 'than' = en.

I can compare things and name the most/least (Dettifoss er stærri en Gullfoss).

Cardinal numbers from zero to one hundred with gender agreement

Can count from 0 to 100 and apply gender agreement on numbers 1-4

Question words: hver, hvað, hvar, hvenær, hvers vegna, hvernig, hvaða

Can form questions using Icelandic question words with correct V2 word order

Negation with ekki — placement rules and common negative words

Can negate sentences using ekki and other negative words with correct placement

V2 word order rule — the verb must be in second position in declarative sentences

Can apply V2 word order in declarative sentences and V1 in yes/no questions

Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions: og, en, eða, af því að, þegar, ef

Can connect clauses using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions with correct word order

Common prepositions and their case government (á, í, frá, til, með, úr, við)

Can use common prepositions with correct case government, including the static/dynamic distinction

Time and frequency adverbs: alltaf, oft, stundum, sjaldan, aldrei, núna, í dag, á morgun

Can use common time and frequency adverbs with correct placement

Essential everyday expressions: greetings, introductions, politeness, shopping, directions

Can use essential Icelandic greetings, introductions, and polite expressions in everyday situations