Questions & Answers about Við bjóðum þér vatn og köku.
Why is it þér and not þig?
Because bjóða selects the dative for the recipient: pattern bjóða e‑m e‑ð (offer someone something). þér is dative singular; þig is accusative and would be incorrect here. For several people, use dative plural ykkur: Við bjóðum ykkur …
What case are vatn and köku, and why does kaka become köku?
They are direct objects, so accusative. Vatn is neuter; nominative and accusative singular are identical, so it stays vatn. Kaka is a feminine noun that takes -u in the oblique singular, and that ending triggers u‑umlaut: a → ö. Hence nominative kaka → accusative köku.
What does the verb form bjóðum tell me? How does bjóða conjugate?
bjóðum is present tense, 1st person plural (we). Useful forms:
- Present: ég býð, þú býður, hann/hún/það býður, við bjóðum, þið bjóðið, þeir/þær/þau bjóða
- Past: ég bauð, við buðum
- Supine/participle used with hafa/vera: boðið
The vowel alternations (ý/ó/au/u) are regular for this strong verb.