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Questions & Answers about Tafir á netinu pirra mig.
Why is netinu in the dative case?
Because the preposition á when indicating a static location or context (“on the Internet”) governs the dative in Icelandic. Here netinu is the dative singular definite form of net (“net/Internet”).
How exactly is netinu formed from the base noun?
Start with the base noun net. To make it definite, you add the suffix -ið, giving netið. Then you add the dative ending -u to that form, resulting in netinu (definite dative singular).
Why is the preposition á used here instead of í?
In Icelandic, certain contexts use á rather than í even though in English both translate as “in/on.” When talking about being “on the Internet,” the normal idiomatic choice is á netinu. You could sometimes hear í netinu, but á netinu is by far the more natural and frequent construction.
What grammatical role does Tafir á netinu play in this sentence?
Tafir á netinu is the subject (the thing doing the annoying). It’s a full noun phrase composed of the noun tafir (“delays”) plus the locative phrase á netinu.
Why is mig in the accusative case and not mér?
The verb pirra is a transitive verb that takes a direct object in the accusative. Mig is the accusative form of ég, so it correctly indicates “me” as what is being annoyed. Mér would be dative and is used with impersonal constructions like finnast (“to find/feel as”), not here.
Why does the verb pirra come immediately after Tafir á netinu?
Icelandic follows the V2 word‐order rule: the finite verb must appear in second position. Since Tafir á netinu counts as the first position (the topicalized subject), the verb pirra must occupy the second slot.
Can we move á netinu to the end of the sentence, as in Tafir pirra mig á netinu?
Yes, you can. Tafir pirra mig á netinu is grammatical. The difference is a subtle shift in emphasis:
- Tafir á netinu pirra mig highlights “delays on the Internet” as your main topic.
- Tafir pirra mig á netinu reads more like “Delays annoy me—on the Internet.”
Both orders obey V2 (verb in second position) and are acceptable.
Could we use another verb instead of pirra, like ergja or reiða?
Absolutely. Icelandic has several verbs for “annoy” or “anger”:
- ergja mig (“to anger/irk me”) is a bit stronger than pirra.
- reiða mig (“to make me angry”) often implies anger rather than mere irritation.
- óna mig is rarer but means “to pester me.”
Choose based on nuance: pirra is common for “to irritate.”
What about expressing this annoyance impersonally, e.g. Tafir á netinu eru mér pirrandi?
That construction is possible:
- Tafir á netinu eru mér pirrandi.
Here pirrandi is a participle/adjective meaning “annoying,” and mér is dative with eru (“are … to me”). It’s grammatically fine but slightly more formal or descriptive (“Delays on the Internet are annoying to me”) rather than the more active “Delays on the Internet annoy me.”