Breakdown of Sestu við borðið, við ætlum að borða hrísgrjón.
borða
to eat
við
we
ætla
to plan
sitja
to sit
borð
the table
hrísgrjón
the rice
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Icelandic grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Sestu við borðið, við ætlum að borða hrísgrjón.
What is the function of the imperative form sestu in this sentence?
The word sestu is the imperative form of the reflexive verb að setjast (“to sit down”). In Icelandic, imperatives do not include an explicit subject (like “you”) because it’s understood from context. This form is used to give a command or instruction.
Why is the phrase við borðið used instead of a preposition like á?
In this context, við expresses the idea of being “at” or “by” a location. Here, borðið is the noun borð (“table”) in its definite form, with the article attached as a suffix. Together, við borðið means “at the table.” Icelandic often uses prepositions like við combined with definite nouns to denote location.
How is the future intention expressed in við ætlum að borða hrísgrjón?
The construction begins with við ætlum, which means “we intend” or “we are going to.” This is followed by að borða, where að precedes the infinitive form of the verb “to eat.” This structure is similar to the English “are going to eat” and is used to indicate a planned or imminent action.
What role does the definite article play in the noun borðið?
In Icelandic, the definite article is not a separate word but rather a suffix attached to the noun. In borðið, the -ið ending marks the noun borð as “the table.” This is a typical feature of Icelandic noun declension, where definiteness is indicated by the ending added to the base form.
How should the noun hrísgrjón be interpreted in this sentence?
The noun hrísgrjón means “rice.” Although the form might look plural or unfamiliar to learners accustomed to English mass nouns, in Icelandic many food items appear with endings that can differ from English usage. In this sentence, hrísgrjón serves as the object of the verb borða (“to eat”) without any additional article.
Why is there a comma between Sestu við borðið and við ætlum að borða hrísgrjón?
The comma is used to separate two distinct parts of the sentence. The first part, Sestu við borðið, is a command, while the second part, við ætlum að borða hrísgrjón, explains what is about to happen. This punctuation clarifies that the sentence contains an imperative instruction followed by a statement of future action.