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Questions & Answers about Ég sé foreldrið.
Why is the verb sjá written as sé in this sentence?
Because Icelandic verbs change form according to person and number. sé is the irregular first-person-singular present indicative of sjá (“to see”). The infinitive is sjá, but when you say “I see,” you must use sé.
How do you conjugate sjá in the present tense?
Present indicative of sjá:
- ég sé (I see)
- þú sérð (you see)
- hann/hún/það ser (he/she/it sees)
- við sjáum (we see)
- þið sjáið (you pl see)
- þeir/þær/þau sjá (they see)
Why does foreldrið end with -ið?
In Icelandic the definite article attaches to the noun as a suffix. For a neuter noun in the singular, that suffix is -ið. So foreldri (“parent”) becomes foreldrið (“the parent”).
What case and number is foreldrið in this sentence?
It’s accusative singular, because sjá is a transitive verb taking a direct object in the accusative. For neuter nouns, the accusative singular form looks the same as the nominative, which is why you see foreldrið in both roles.
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