Hún fylgir ráðunum þínum.

she

Breakdown of Hún fylgir ráðunum þínum.

• þinn: your
• fylgja: to follow
• ráðið: the advice

Questions & Answers about Hún fylgir ráðunum þínum.

Why is ráðunum in the dative plural here?

• The verb fylgja governs the dative case, so its object must be in dative.
• The noun ráð is neuter; its dative plural is ráðum.
• Because the possessive follows the noun, Icelandic adds the definite article, giving ráðunum (dative plural definite).
• So ráðunum = dative plural definite of ráð.

Why does the possessive come after the noun, and why is there a definite ending?

• When a possessive pronoun is postposed in Icelandic, the noun normally takes the suffixed definite article: ráðunum þínum (literally: the advice yours).
• Saying ráðum þínum with the possessive after but without the article is generally not standard.
• Postposed possessive is the neutral/default order.

Can I put the possessive before the noun? What changes?

• Yes: Hún fylgir þínum ráðum.
• When the possessive is preposed, the noun does not take the definite ending.
• This order slightly emphasizes whose advice it is (your advice as opposed to someone else’s). Both versions are correct.

Why is it þínum and not þín?

• þinn (your, singular) declines like an adjective and must agree with the noun.
• ráðunum is neuter, plural, dative → the matching possessive form is þínum.
• Some useful forms:
  • Nom.sg.neut: þitt
  • Dat.sg.neut: þínu
  • Nom.pl.neut: þín
  • Dat.pl (all genders): þínum

Is ráð singular or plural here?

• It’s plural here, signaled by the dative plural ending -um (in ráðum-/ráðunum).
• ráð has the same form for singular and plural in nominative/accusative, so case endings reveal number.
• Singular ráð often means a plan/measure/solution; plural ráð often corresponds to English uncountable advice.

Can you give me the core forms of ráð?

• Singular (indef.): nom/acc ráð, dat ráði, gen ráðs; definite nom/acc ráðið.
• Plural (indef.): nom/acc ráð, dat ráðum, gen ráða; definite nom/acc ráðin, dat ráðunum, gen ráðanna.

What exactly is the ending in ráðunum?

• Indefinite dative plural is -um: ráðum.
• The definite dative plural suffix is -unum: ráðunum.
• A handy way to memorize: dat.pl indef = -um; dat.pl def = -unum.

Do I need a preposition with fylgja?

• No. fylgja takes a direct object in the dative.
• Examples: Hún fylgir mér (She follows me), Þeir fylgja reglunum (They follow the rules).

How is fylgja conjugated in the basics?

• Infinitive: fylgja
• Present 3sg: fylgir → Hún fylgir ráðunum þínum.
• Past 3sg: fylgdi → Hún fylgdi ráðunum þínum.
• Past participle: fylgt → Ég hef fylgt ráðunum þínum.
• 1pl present: fylgjum; 3pl present: fylgja

How do I make the sentence negative?

• Place ekki after the finite verb: Hún fylgir ekki ráðunum þínum.

What if I mean your (plural), not your (singular)?

• Use ykkar (it does not decline).
• Postposed: Hún fylgir ráðunum ykkar.
• Preposed (still no article on the noun): Hún fylgir ykkar ráðum.

What’s the difference between ráð and ráðleggingar?

• ráð (often plural) = advice/tips in a general sense.
• ráðleggingar = recommendations/pieces of advice (explicitly countable).
• With ráðleggingar (dat.pl.def): Hún fylgir ráðleggingunum þínum.

Any tips for pronouncing ð and þ (and the vowels) here?

• ð in ráðunum: voiced th, like in English this.
• þ in þínum: unvoiced th, like in thing.
• á: like ow in now (long).
• ú: long oo, as in food.
• í: long ee.
• Roughly: Hún [huːn], fylgir [ˈfɪl.cɪr], ráðunum [ˈrauːðʏnʏm], þínum [ˈθiːnʏm].

Is the word order special in Icelandic?

• Icelandic is a V2 language: the finite verb occupies the second position in main clauses.
• Hún fylgir ráðunum þínum has subject–verb–object order, satisfying V2.
• If you front the object, the verb stays second: Ráðunum þínum fylgir hún (marked/emphatic but grammatical).

Could I say follow up on your advice?

• That’s fylgja eftir: Hún fylgir eftir ráðunum þínum = She follows up on your advice.