Questions & Answers about Hann fer á pósthúsið eftir vinnu.
What does the verb form fer tell me? Is it present or past, and which person?
fer is present tense, 3rd person singular of fara (“to go”). Present: ég fer, þú ferð, hann/hún/það fer, við förum, þið farið, þeir/þær/þau fara. Past: ég fór, við fórum, þeir fóru. So Hann fer = “He goes / is going.”
Why is it á pósthúsið and not í pósthúsið or til pósthússins?
- á + accusative is the usual choice for going to many institutions and events (post office, hospital, concert). It often translates as “to.”
- í + accusative also means “into/to” and is fine; it emphasizes entering the interior. Both are understood here, with á being the more idiomatic collocation.
- til + genitive means “to/towards,” but it’s used more with people, towns/countries, or abstract goals. You wouldn’t typically say til pósthússins for a routine visit.
Why does pósthúsið end in -ið?
pósthús is a neuter noun. The definite singular ending for neuter in the nominative/accusative is -ið. With motion to a place (á + accusative), you get pósthús + ið → pósthúsið. For location (being there), it would be dative definite: á pósthúsinu (“at the post office”).