Hann þvær sér í sturtu eftir vinnu.

he

Breakdown of Hann þvær sér í sturtu eftir vinnu.

• vinna: the work
• í: in
• eftir: after

Questions & Answers about Hann þvær sér í sturtu eftir vinnu.

Why is it sér and not sig or hann?

• sér is the dative form of the reflexive pronoun (3rd person) and means “himself/herself/itself/themselves” depending on the subject.
• The verb þvo governs the dative in the set phrase þvo sér “to wash oneself,” so you must use the dative reflexive.
• sig is the accusative reflexive; it’s not used here because this verb phrase calls for the dative.
• hann would mean “he washes him (some other man),” not himself.

Examples:

• Hann þvær sér. = He washes himself.
• Hann þvær hann. = He washes him (someone else).

Why is the verb form þvær and not þvo?

• þvo is the infinitive “to wash.”
• þvær is the 3rd person singular present indicative: “he/she/it washes.”
• Present singular forms: ég þvæ, þú þværð, hann/hún/það þvær.
• 3rd person plural present: þeir/þær/þau þvo.
• Past: þvoði (e.g., Ég þvoði mér “I washed”).
• Past participle: þvegið/þveginn (e.g., Ég hef þvegið mér um hendurnar).

The vowel change (þvo → þvær) is an i-umlaut type alternation in the present singular.

What case is used in í sturtu, and why?

• í takes the dative for location (“in”) and the accusative for motion (“into”).