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Questions & Answers about Ég geri þetta strax.
What does each word in Ég geri þetta strax do grammatically?
- Ég: first-person singular subject pronoun (nominative) = “I”
- geri: present tense, 1st person singular of the verb gera “to do/make”
- þetta: neuter singular pronoun “this/that” (accusative direct object)
- strax: adverb “immediately/right away” Word order is the default Icelandic SVO: Subject–Verb–Object–Adverbial.
Why is it geri and not the infinitive gera?
Because the verb is conjugated for 1st person singular present. Mini paradigm of gera:
- Present: ég geri, þú gerir, hann/hún/það gerir, við gerum, þið gerið, þeir/þær/þau gera
- Past: ég gerði, þú gerðir, hann/hún/það gerði, við gerðum, þið gerðuð, þeir/þær/þau gerðu
- Supine (with hafa): gert (Ég hef gert …)
Is the present tense here talking about the near future?
Yes. Icelandic often uses the present for immediate or scheduled future, so it naturally corresponds to “I’ll do it right away.” You can also make the futurity explicit:
- Ég mun gera þetta strax. (neutral future statement)
- Ég ætla að gera þetta strax. (I intend/plan to)
- Ég skal gera þetta strax. (I promise/I will)
Can I say Ég geri það strax instead of Ég geri þetta strax?
Yes. Both are correct. Nuance:
- þetta points to “this/that thing (just mentioned/indicated)”—more deictic.
- það is a neutral “it/that,” often used when the referent is already known or as a general object pronoun.
What case is þetta, and what are the other forms?
Here þetta is accusative neuter (the form is the same in nominative and accusative). Neuter forms of this demonstrative:
- Nominative/Accusative: þetta
- Dative: þessu
- Genitive: þessa
Where should the adverb strax go?
The natural spot is after the object:
- Ég geri þetta strax. Fronting for emphasis is possible but marked:
- Strax geri ég þetta. (focus on “immediately”) Placing it between verb and object (e.g., “Ég geri strax þetta”) is unusual in neutral speech.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
Approximate IPA: [jɛːɣ ˈcɛːrɪ ˈθɛhta straks] Tips:
- Ég: é is like “yeh” with a long vowel; final g is a voiced fricative [ɣ].
- geri: g before e/i is palatal [c]; stress on ge-: [ˈcɛː-].
- þetta: þ = [θ] (as in “thin”); tt is preaspirated
- strax: x = [ks]. Primary stress on the first syllable of each content word (Icelandic stresses first syllables).
Can I drop the subject Ég?
No. Icelandic is not a “null-subject” language. You normally include the subject pronoun: Ég.
How do I negate it?
- Ég geri þetta ekki strax. (I won’t do it right away.) Placement: in main clauses, ekki typically comes after the verb and usually after a short pronominal object as well. Alternatives with future/intention:
- Ég mun ekki gera þetta strax.
- Ég ætla ekki að gera þetta strax.
How do I turn it into a yes/no question?
Main-clause questions keep the verb in second position. For “you”:
- Gerirðu þetta strax? (Will you do this right away?) For intention:
- Ætlarðu að gera þetta strax? For a suggestion about oneself:
- Á ég að gera þetta strax? (Should I do this right away?)
What’s the imperative if I want to tell someone to do it right away?
- Singular: Gerðu þetta strax!
- Plural/polite to a group: Gerið þetta strax!
Does gera mean both “do” and “make,” or should I use something else?
gera covers a wide “do/make” range. For “finish,” use klára: Ég klára þetta strax. For creating/preparing specific things (like food), speakers often prefer a more specific verb (e.g., “baka” for bake, “elduða”/“elda” for cook). Context guides the best choice.
Is strax always “immediately,” or can it mean “soon”?
strax normally means “immediately/right away.” Colloquially, rétt strax often softens it to “in just a moment/very soon.” Stronger or formal alternatives include þegar í stað, umsvifalaust, tafarlust. An intensifier is núna strax (“right now, immediately”).