hvor
Which of Two (Hvor)
Hvor bíllinn er þinn? (Which of the two cars is yours?) Use hvor when there are exactly two to choose from.
How It Works
One of two. Use hvor when the choice is between two people or things that both speakers have in mind. For three or more, ask with hver or hvaða.
- Hvor bíllinn er þinn? (Which of the two cars is yours?)
- Hvaða bíll er þinn? (Which car is yours? There can be any number of cars.)
Forms. hvor agrees with the thing chosen:
- masculine: hvor, hvorn, hvorum, hvors
- feminine: hvor, hvora, hvorri, hvorrar
- neuter: hvort, hvort, hvoru, hvors
The case comes from the word's job in the sentence: Hvorn bílinn viltu? (object, accusative). Í hvoru húsinu býr hún? (after í, dative).
With a noun. The two things are already known, so the noun normally takes the attached article: hvor bókin, hvort barnið. hvaða works differently. It never changes, and the noun after it has no article: hvaða bók.
Without a noun. hvor can stand alone: Hvorn viltu? (Which one do you want?) To pick one of two people, add okkar, ykkar or þeirra: hvor ykkar (which of you two). hvor is singular here, so the verb is singular too: Hvor ykkar kom fyrst?
Two named choices. The neuter hvort can ask which of two options someone wants: Hvort viltu kaffi eða te? (Would you like coffee or tea?) The same form hvort also means whether in indirect questions.
The answer often uses hinn, the other one of two: Ekki þennan, hinn!
Examples (6)
- Hvor bíllinn er þinn?
Which of the two cars is yours?
Word by Word: Which-of-two the-car is yours?
- Hvor ykkar kom fyrst?
Which of you two came first?
Word by Word: Which-of-two of-you came first?
hvor is singular, so the verb kom is singular too.
- Hvorn viltu, þennan eða hinn?
Which one do you want, this one or the other one?
Word by Word: Which-of-two want-you, this or the-other?
hvorn is masculine accusative, for example about two cups (bolli).
- Í hvoru húsinu býr hún?
Which of the two houses does she live in?
Word by Word: In which-of-two the-house lives she?
í takes the dative here, so hvort becomes hvoru.
- Hvort viltu kaffi eða te?
Would you like coffee or tea?
Word by Word: Which-of-two want-you coffee or tea?
- Hvor systirin er eldri?
Which of the two sisters is older?
Word by Word: Which-of-two the-sister is older?
Common Mistakes
Using hvaða with a noun that has the article.
Hvaða bókin er þín?Hvor bókin er þín?hvaða is followed by a noun without the article: Hvaða bók er þín? When you mean one of two known books, use hvor with the article: Hvor bókin er þín?
Using the neuter hvort with a masculine or feminine noun.
Hvort bíllinn er þinn?Hvor bíllinn er þinn?bíll is masculine, so the form is hvor. hvort goes with neuter nouns: Hvort húsið er þitt?
How It Connects
Learn This First
hvor builds on hver and hvaða.
Related Patterns
- hinn / hin / hittThe Other One (Hinn)
hinn means the other one of two and often answers a hvor question.
Level 4 - hvor annarEach Other (Hvor Annar)
hvor also builds each other: Þeir hjálpa hvor öðrum.
Level 4 - hvorugurNeither of Two (Hvorugur)
hvorugur means neither of two: Hvorugur bræðranna kom.
Level 5 - báðirBoth (Báðir)
báðir means both of two: báðir bílarnir.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice hvor in Bubblegum
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