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Hún undirbýr fundinn fyrirfram og stendur við loforð sitt.

Hún undirbýr fundinn fyrirfram og stendur við loforð sitt.
She prepares the meeting in advance and keeps her promise.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Icelandic
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Questions & Answers about Hún undirbýr fundinn fyrirfram og stendur við loforð sitt.

Why is the reflexive possessive sitt used here instead of hennar?

Sitt (from the reflexive set sinn/sín/sitt) means “her own” and refers back to the subject of the clause, Hún. So stendur við loforð sitt = “keeps her own promise.” If you use hennar, it means “her (someone else’s) promise,” i.e., not the subject’s. Compare:

  • Hún stendur við loforð sitt. = She keeps her own promise.
  • Hún stendur við loforð hennar. = She keeps her promise (belonging to some other woman).
Why is fundinn in that form?

Fundinn is the definite accusative singular of the masculine noun fundur (meeting). The verb undirbúa takes a direct object, so the object is accusative; because it’s “the meeting,” it’s definite:

  • Nom. sg. (subject): fundurinn
  • Acc. sg. (object): fundinn The base indefinite forms are: nom. fundur, acc. fund, dat. fundi, gen. fundar.
What does the verb phrase standa við mean, and how does it work?

Standa við is an idiom meaning “to keep/abide by” (a promise, agreement, plan, etc.). The preposition/particle við takes the accusative. In this sentence the object is loforð (accusative), and because it’s neuter, its acc. form looks the same as the nominative. So: stendur við loforð sitt = “keeps her promise.” Don’t confuse with:

  • standa með = “stand with, support.”
Why is it undirbýr and not the infinitive undirbúa?

Undirbúa is the infinitive “to prepare.” Here we need 3rd person singular present: hún undirbýr (“she prepares”). Present tense of undirbúa is irregular (like búa = “live/prepare”):

  • ég undirbý
  • þú undirbýrð
  • hann/hún/það undirbýr
  • við undirbúum, þið undirbúið, þeir undirbúa
Where can the adverb fyrirfram go in the sentence?

It’s flexible. Common options:

  • Hún undirbýr fundinn fyrirfram …
  • Hún undirbýr fyrirfram fundinn …
  • Fyrirfram undirbýr hún fundinn … All are acceptable; the first is the most typical here. Fronting fyrirfram adds emphasis to “in advance.”
Why is the subject Hún (nominative) and not Hana?
Subjects in Icelandic take the nominative case, hence Hún. Hana is accusative and is used for direct objects or after certain prepositions.
Could I say “prepare for the meeting” instead of “prepare the meeting”?

Yes, use the reflexive with a preposition: undirbúa sig fyrir fundinn = “prepare oneself for the meeting.” Contrast:

  • undirbúa fundinn = “prepare the meeting” (organize it)
  • undirbúa sig fyrir fundinn = “get oneself ready for the meeting”
Should it be loforð sitt or loforðið sitt?
Both can occur, but with this idiom the bare noun is very common: standa við loforð sitt. Adding the article (loforðið sitt) can sound more specific (“that particular promise”). With abstract nouns like loforð, the article is often omitted in set phrases.
How would I say “keeps her promises” (plural)?
Use the plural of the reflexive possessive to agree in number: stendur við loforð sín. Note that neuter loforð looks the same in nom/acc singular and plural; the plural shows up in agreement on sín (plural).
What case does við take?

Við governs the accusative. Examples:

  • við hann (against/with him)
  • við borðið (by/at the table; neuter def. acc. looks like nom.)
  • standa við loforð (keep a promise)
Could fundinn be fundinum here?
No. Fundinum is dative definite singular, used after dative-governing prepositions (e.g., á fundinum = “at the meeting”). Here fundinn is a direct object of undirbýr, so it must be accusative definite.
What tense is this? Why not a present continuous form?
It’s simple present in both verbs (undirbýr, stendur). Icelandic doesn’t have a separate present continuous form like English “is preparing.” The simple present covers both habitual and ongoing actions, with adverbs (like fyrirfram) giving nuance.
Pronunciation tips for tricky letters in this sentence?
  • ú (in Hún): long [u], like “oo” in “food.”
  • ý (in undirbýr): long [i], like “ee” in “see.”
  • ð (in við, loforð): voiced “th,” as in “this.”
  • Initial stress is on the first syllable of each word: HÚN, UND‑ir‑býr, FUND‑inn, FYR‑ir‑fram, STEND‑ur, VIÐ, LOF‑orð, SITT.
  • Rolled/trilled r.
Is there any difference between standa við loforð sitt and using verbs like halda or efna?

They’re near-synonyms in this context:

  • standa við loforð = keep a promise (very common)
  • halda loforð = keep a promise (also common)
  • efna loforð = fulfill a promise (slightly more formal/literary) All are idiomatic.
Why is there a double n in fundinn?
Because the definite article is suffixed to the accusative stem: fund + -inn → fundinn. Icelandic attaches the definite article to the end of nouns.
Can I repeat the subject after the conjunction, like: “Hún … og hún …”?
Yes: Hún undirbýr fundinn fyrirfram og hún stendur við loforð sitt. Repeating hún is fine for emphasis or clarity, but it’s not required when the subject stays the same.
How does agreement work with the reflexive sinn/sín/sitt?

It agrees with the possessed noun in gender, number, and case, and refers back to the clause’s subject:

  • m. sg. acc.: sinn (t.d. halda heiður sinn)
  • f. sg. acc.: sína (t.d. virða ákvörðun sína)
  • n. sg. acc.: sitt (here: loforð sitt)
  • plural acc.: sína (m/f), sín (n) → e.g., loforð sín (neuter plural)

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