Breakdown of Fyrirtækið sendir fulltrúann.
Questions & Answers about Fyrirtækið sendir fulltrúann.
Why does fyrirtækið end in -ið?
Because Icelandic usually puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.
- fyrirtæki = company
- fyrirtækið = the company
Here -ið is the definite article for a neuter singular noun in the nominative.
Why is it fulltrúann and not fulltrúi?
Fulltrúi is the dictionary form, meaning representative.
In this sentence, the representative is the direct object of sendir, so the noun has to be in the accusative case. That changes the form:
- fulltrúi = nominative singular indefinite
- fulltrúa = accusative singular indefinite
- fulltrúann = accusative singular definite, the representative
So fulltrúann is the correct object form here.
Why is it fulltrúann and not fulltrúinn?
Because fulltrúinn is the nominative definite form, which is normally used for the subject:
- fulltrúinn = the representative as subject
- fulltrúann = the representative as object
In Fyrirtækið sendir fulltrúann, the company is doing the action, so fyrirtækið is the subject, and fulltrúann is the object.
What form is sendir?
Sendir is the present tense of the verb senda, meaning to send.
Relevant forms are:
- ég sendi = I send
- þú sendir = you send
- hann / hún / það sendir = he / she / it sends
Since fyrirtækið is a third-person singular subject (it, grammatically), sendir is the right form.
Does sendir mean both sends and is sending?
Yes, very often it can.
Icelandic present tense can cover both:
- The company sends the representative
- The company is sending the representative
Usually the exact meaning depends on context.
What are the dictionary forms and genders of the nouns in this sentence?
Where is the word the in this sentence?
It is attached to the nouns themselves.
So instead of a separate word like English the, Icelandic often uses a suffixed article:
- fyrirtækið = the company
- fulltrúann = the representative
That is one of the first big differences English speakers notice in Icelandic.
Is the word order special here?
No, this is the normal, neutral word order:
- Fyrirtækið = subject
- sendir = verb
- fulltrúann = object
So it follows a basic subject–verb–object pattern, much like English.
Icelandic word order can be more flexible than English, but this sentence is the straightforward default.
Why doesn't Icelandic need a separate word for it for the company?
How would the sentence look without the?
You would remove the suffixed definite article:
- Fyrirtæki sendir fulltrúa.
That means A company sends a representative or Company sends representative, depending on context.
In practice, English articles and Icelandic article usage do not always match perfectly, but that is the basic contrast.
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