Breakdown of Hún smellir á "Prenta" og prentar tvær síður á prentaranum.
hún
she
á
on
og
and
prenta
to print
smella á
to click
"Prenta"
"Print"
tveir
two
síðan
the page
prentarinn
the printer
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Questions & Answers about Hún smellir á "Prenta" og prentar tvær síður á prentaranum.
Why does it say Hún smellir with the verb right after the subject?
Icelandic main clauses are verb‑second (V2): the finite verb usually comes in the second slot. Here the subject Hún (“she”) is first and the verb smellir (“clicks”) is second. If another element comes first, the verb still stays second: Síðan smellir hún á Prenta (“Then she clicks on Print”).
Why is the subject not repeated in the second clause: … og prentar tvær síður …?
In coordinated clauses, Icelandic commonly drops a repeated subject if it’s the same as in the first clause. Fully spelled out, it would be Hún smellir á Prenta og hún prentar tvær síður …, but repeating hún is unnecessary and less natural.
Why is it smella á (click on) instead of just smella?
The verb smella (“to click”) takes the preposition á to mark the target: smella á e‑ð = “click on something.” With a regular noun, á here uses the accusative: smella á hnappinn (“click the button”). In our sentence, the target is a UI label, so you just see á plus the label.
Could I say klikkar á instead of smellir á?
Many people say klikka á colloquially (influenced by English “click”), and it will be understood. However, klikka also means “to mess up/fail,” so the safer and more standard choice for computer clicking is smella á.
What’s the difference between smella á and ýta á?
- smella á: click (with a mouse/trackpad) on a UI element.
- ýta á: press a physical button or key (e.g., ýta á takkann “press the button,” ýta á Enter “press Enter”).
For touchscreens, you’ll also hear pikka á (“tap on”).
Why is it prentar and not prentar út? Are both correct?
Both are correct. Prenta is “to print,” while prenta út literally adds “out,” emphasizing that something is being printed out to paper. In tech contexts, both are common; prentar tvær síður and prentar út tvær síður are both fine.
Why is it tvær instead of tveir or tvö?
The numeral “two” agrees with the gender of the noun:
- tveir (masculine)
- tvær (feminine)
- tvö (neuter)
Síða (“page”) is feminine, so you must use tvær.
What case is síður here, and why?
Síður is the plural form used for both nominative and accusative of síða (“page”). Here it’s the direct object of prentar, so it’s accusative plural. The form happens to be identical to nominative plural.
How would I say “the two pages” instead of “two pages”?
Use the definite plural with the numeral:
- tvær síðurnar or síðurnar tvær (“the two pages”).
Both orders are acceptable; tvær síðurnar is very common.
Why is it á prentaranum and not something else?
Á with a static location (“on/at”) takes the dative case, hence prentaranum (dative singular, definite). With motion “onto,” á takes the accusative. So:
- á prentaranum = on/at the printer (dative)
- á prentarann = onto the printer (accusative, physical motion), which doesn’t fit “printing” here.
What’s the form prentaranum exactly?
Prentari (“printer”) is masculine. In the dative singular, the indefinite is prentara. Adding the definite article as a suffix gives prentaranum (“on the printer”). If you wanted “on a printer” (indefinite), you’d say á prentara.
Is it okay to capitalize the button name Prenta and how should I mark it in text?
Yes—UI labels are typically capitalized. In running text, Icelandic style often uses italics or Icelandic quotation marks (the low‑high style) to mark labels. In many guides, people also use bold to highlight a button: click Prenta.
Is the present tense here describing actions happening right now?
Yes. Smellir and prentar are present‑tense, third‑person singular forms: Hún smellir (“she clicks”), hún prentar (“she prints”). Icelandic simple present readily describes actions unfolding now, including sequences joined by og (“and”).
What are the past‑tense forms of these verbs?
- smella (“to click”): past smellti (e.g., Hún smellti á Prenta “She clicked on Print”).
- prenta (“to print”): past prentaði (e.g., Hún prentaði tvær síður “She printed two pages”).
Could I say smella á hnappinn Prenta instead of smella á Prenta?
Yes. You can be explicit: Hún smellir á hnappinn Prenta (“She clicks the button Print”) or Hún smellir á hnappinn sem heitir Prenta (“… the button that’s called Print”). In everyday instructions, people usually just write smella á Prenta.
Do I need a comma before og in this sentence?
No. A simple coordination with og (“and”) normally takes no comma in Icelandic: Hún smellir á Prenta og prentar tvær síður á prentaranum.