Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Þið ætlið að taka strætó í dag.

Ætlið is the second-person plural form of the verb ætla, which means “to intend” or “to plan”. In this sentence, it indicates that you are going to… do something, showing future intent.

Why is the structure ætlið að taka used to express a future action?

In Icelandic, instead of a separate future tense, future actions are often expressed using a form of ætla followed by the infinitive preceded by að. This construction is similar to saying “are going to” in English. Thus, ætlið að taka means “you are going to take.”

What does strætó refer to in the sentence?

Strætó is an abbreviated form of strætisvagn and means “bus”. It is the object of the action indicated by the infinitive taka.

What role does í dag play in the sentence?

Í dag translates directly as “today” in English. It functions as a time adverbial, specifying when the action (taking the bus) will take place.

How does the word order in this Icelandic sentence compare to English?

The sentence follows a logical structure similar to English: the subject (Þið), followed by the modal-future construction (ætlið að taka), and finally the object and time indicator (strætó í dag). However, Icelandic often uses constructions like ætla + að + infinitive to indicate future intent, which may differ from the typical English use of an auxiliary verb like “will” or “are going to.”