Ég nota myndavélina sem hann gaf mér.

I use the camera that he gave me.

Breakdown of Ég nota myndavélina sem hann gaf mér.

• ég: I
• hann: he
• nota: to use
• mér: me
• sem: that
• myndavélin: the camera
• gefa: to give

Questions & Answers about Ég nota myndavélina sem hann gaf mér.

Why is myndavélina used instead of myndavél? What do the endings –in(a) indicate?

myndavél is the indefinite singular (“a camera”). When you make it definite you add –in for feminine nouns (“the camera”), and when that definite form functions as the direct object you add an extra –a:
• indefinite nominative/accusative: myndavél
• definite nominative: myndavélin
• definite accusative: myndavélina

Here nota (“use”) takes a direct object, so we need the accusative definite: myndavélina (“the camera”).

What is the function of sem in sem hann gaf mér?

sem is the invariable relative pronoun meaning that/which. It introduces the relative clause and refers back to myndavélina. Unlike English, Icelandic doesn’t decline this pronoun for case or gender. So sem hann gaf mér = that he gave me.

Why is mér in the dative case instead of mig?

The verb gefa (“to give”) takes two objects: the thing given in the accusative and the recipient in the dative. Since mér means to me, it must be dative. mig would be the accusative form (“me”) and would wrongly suggest that “me” is the direct object of gaf.

Which word does the relative clause sem hann gaf mér modify?

It modifies myndavélina. In Icelandic the relative clause immediately follows the noun it describes:
Ég nota [myndavélina] [sem hann gaf mér].

Why is the verb gaf in the middle of the clause instead of at the end?

Relative clauses introduced by sem follow the main‐clause word order (V2), not the normal subordinate‐clause pattern (verb-last). Here sem counts as the first element, hann (subject) is second, and the finite verb gaf comes in the “verb-second” position.

Why is hann needed after sem? Could you say Ég nota myndavélina sem gaf mér?

No. If you drop hann, the subject of gaf becomes sem (i.e. “the camera”), so it would read “the camera gave me.” To show that he gave the camera, you must include hann as the subject of the relative clause: sem hann gaf mér (“that he gave me”).

Why aren’t there commas around sem hann gaf mér?

This is a restrictive (defining) relative clause—it tells you which camera I use (the one he gave me). Icelandic does not use commas for such clauses. You would only add commas if it were non‐restrictive (additional, non‐essential info).