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Questions & Answers about Ef flugvélinni seinkar, þá bíðum við rólega.
What does ef mean here?
Ef means if. It introduces a conditional clause: Ef flugvélinni seinkar = If the plane is delayed.
Where is the word the in flugvélinni?
In Icelandic, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.
- flugvél = plane / airplane
- flugvélin = the plane
- flugvélinni = the plane(dative)
So flugvélinni already includes the meaning of the plane.
Why is it flugvélinni and not flugvélin?
Because seinka uses the delayed thing in the dative case.
So Icelandic says:
- flugvélinni seinkar
rather than using the nominative flugvélin in this pattern.
This is something learners often just have to memorize with the verb: seinka goes with dative in this meaning.
What does seinkar mean exactly in this sentence?