NaFnorðalagna

NaFnorðalagna is the nominal layer or noun phrase in Icelandic grammar. It refers to the syntactic unit built around a head noun (nafnorð) together with its modifiers, such as determiners, numerals, adjectives and other qualifiers. The nafnorðalagna functions as the unit that names or describes a person, thing or concept within a sentence.

Structure and agreement: In Icelandic, a typical nafnorðalagna follows a roughly fixed order, with determiners or demonstratives, numerals and adjectives preceding the head noun. The head noun is inflected for case and number, and adjectives that modify it agree with the noun in gender, number and case. Definite form is usually expressed by a suffix on the head noun (for example, a definite form of the noun rather than a separate definite article). The noun phrase can act as subject, object or other syntactic roles, and it may be expanded by relative clauses or possessive material.

Definiteness and variation: The nafnorðalagna can be definite or indefinite. In definite form, the noun carries a possessive-like suffix that marks definiteness; adjectives within the phrase typically take forms that align with the noun’s inflection. Indefinite phrases often lack the definite suffix on the noun, and their modifiers do not carry the definite ending in the same way. The structure thus supports a range of expressions, from a single noun to long phrases with several modifiers.

Examples (singular): Indefinite: gamall hundur (an old dog). Definite: gamli hundurinn (the old dog). These illustrate how a noun phrase can shift with definiteness while keeping the same core meaning.