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Questions & Answers about Ég sé skóla.
How is "Ég sé skóla" pronounced in Icelandic?
- Ég: pronounced somewhat like yeah (the g is not strongly pronounced).
- sé: pronounced like s-yeh.
- skóla: sko-la (the ó is pronounced similar to the long o in "go").
Why isn’t there an article before "skóla"?
Icelandic generally does not use a separate article like the or a before nouns in the same way English does. Instead, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun (e.g., skólinn for "the school"). For an indefinite sense ("a school"), Icelandic uses the bare noun: skóla.
Is "skóla" in the accusative case here?
Yes. In this sentence, skóla is the direct object of the verb sé ("see"), so it’s in the accusative case. The nominative form is skóli, and the accusative form is skóla.
Does "Ég sé" only mean "I see" in the present tense?
Primarily yes. Ég sé is the present tense form of the verb sjá ("to see"). It means "I see" right now, or as a general statement of ability or action in the present.
How would I say "I see the school" instead of "I see a school"?
To say "I see the school," you would attach the definite article to skóli, forming skólann in the accusative. The sentence becomes: Ég sé skólann.