Breakdown of Ef þú gleymir regnhlífinni, þá bleytist jakkinn.
þú
you
ef
if
þá
then
regnhlífin
the umbrella
jakkinn
the jacket
gleyma
to forget
bleytast
to get wet
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Questions & Answers about Ef þú gleymir regnhlífinni, þá bleytist jakkinn.
Why is regnhlífinni in the dative case?
The verb gleyma (forget) always takes its object in the dative. Regnhlífan (umbrella) in the dative singular definite becomes regnhlífinni, literally “(to) the umbrella.” The definite ending -inni shows we’re talking about a specific umbrella you both know.
What is the function of þá in this sentence?
Icelandic main clauses follow a verb-second (V2) rule. After a fronted subordinate clause (Ef þú gleymir regnhlífinni), you need one element before the verb in the main clause. Þá (then) fills that first slot and also acts as the “if-then” linker. In casual speech you might drop it, but in standard writing it’s common.
Why does bleytist come before jakkinn?
Because of the V2 word order: in a main clause the finite verb must be in second position. Here þá is first, bleytist (gets wet) is second, and jakkinn (the coat) follows as the subject.
Why are both verbs (gleymir, bleytist) in the present tense rather than future?
In real or likely conditionals, Icelandic uses the present tense in both clauses—even when the result happens in the future. So gleymir (you forget) and bleytist (gets wet) suffice to express “if you forget…, then it will get wet.”
Why is ef not followed by að?
Ef is a subordinating conjunction that directly introduces a finite clause. You don’t add að after it. Some colloquial styles slip in að, but standard Icelandic uses ef + present‐tense verb.
Why is jakkinn definite instead of just jakki?
Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffix, not a separate article. Jakki is “a coat,” while jakkinn is “the coat.” Here we mean your specific coat, so the definite form is used.
What does bleytist mean, and is it a passive form?
Bleytist is the 3rd singular present of bleytast, a middle-voice verb meaning “to get wet” or “to become wet.” It isn’t a passive of bleyta. The transitive bleyta means “wet” or “make wet,” while the reflexive-style bleytast means “get/become wet.”