Page:A Danish and Dano-Norwegian grammar.djvu/92

78 lös fruitless, magteslös, krafteslös powerless, stundeslös fidgety, trösteslös disconsolate). The genitive is especially frequently used when the first part of the composition is itself a compound word: Kirketaarnsur a church steeple clock (but Taarnur a tower clock): Sandstensmur a sand stone wall (but Stenmur a stone wall). Such possessives may sometimes be found as first part of a composition even if there is no corresponding nominative; Ex.: Fralandsvind a land breeze (Vinden staar fra Land the breeze sets from land).

165. Remains of an old gen. plur. are found in a great many compound words the first part of which ends in e (O. N. a). Sengested bedstead, Stoleben chair's leg, Barneaar years of childhood (Börnebal childrens ball, Börnehave kindergarten are exclusively Danish, in N. they say — or are taught to say — Barnebal, Barnehave).

166. Remains of an old dative is found in the adverbial phrases: ad Aare next year, itide in due time, ilive alive, paafærde abroad, at work, igjære in progress, etc.

167. The plural is formed in the following manners:

I) by adding r or er to the singular, with or without “mutation” (see § 149).

II) by adding e to the singular, in a few cases with “mutation.”

III) the plural has the same form as the singular, except that in a few cases the vowel is changed by “mutation”.