Breakdown of Meðan starfsmaðurinn athugar garðaúrganginn borgum við móttökugjaldið.
við
we
borga
to pay
meðan
while
athuga
to check
Questions & Answers about Meðan starfsmaðurinn athugar garðaúrganginn borgum við móttökugjaldið.
What does meðan mean here, and what kind of clause does it introduce?
Meðan means while in this sentence. It introduces a subordinate time clause: Meðan starfsmaðurinn athugar garðaúrganginn = while the employee checks the garden waste.
A useful thing to notice is that meðan is followed by a full clause with a subject and a finite verb. You do not need an extra að here.
Why is there no separate word for the in this sentence?
Because Icelandic very often puts the definite article onto the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.
In this sentence:
- starfsmaðurinn = the employee
- garðaúrganginn = the garden waste
- móttökugjaldið = the reception fee / intake fee
So instead of a separate word like English the, Icelandic commonly uses endings such as -inn or -ið, depending on the noun’s gender and case.
Why do the definite endings look different: -inn in starfsmaðurinn and garðaúrganginn, but -ið in móttökugjaldið?