Íslandadjective

Íslandadjective is a term used in linguistic discussions to refer to the adjectives of the Icelandic language. As with adjectives in many languages, an Íslandadjective modifies a noun or pronoun and must agree with it in various grammatical categories, most notably gender, number, and case. In Icelandic this agreement is extended to definiteness, since the language marks definiteness on the noun and, in many contexts, on the accompanying adjective as well.

Icelandic adjectives have two main inflectional patterns, commonly described as strong and weak declensions. The strong declension is typically used with indefinite noun phrases, while the weak declension appears with definite nouns or when a demonstrative or a definite article is used. Adjectives thus change form across the four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) and across three numbers (singular, plural) and three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter).

Comparative and superlative forms exist for Íslandadjective words, usually by means of suffixal changes or periphrastic constructions; some adjectives are irregular in their degrees. In syntax, Íslandadjective generally precede the noun in attributive use and can appear predicatively after linking verbs. Adjectives can also participate in noun phrases that express nationality or other classifications, and some adjectives derive from participles or other stems.

Studying Íslandadjective contributes to understanding Icelandic morphology, agreement, and word formation, and the term underscores the central role of adjectives in describing nouns and pronouns in Icelandic. See also Icelandic language, Adjective (linguistics).