Við skoðum þetta nánar á morgun.

we

Breakdown of Við skoðum þetta nánar á morgun.

• á morgun: tomorrow
• þetta: this
• skoða: to look at
• nánar: in more detail

Questions & Answers about Við skoðum þetta nánar á morgun.

Is this sentence in the present or the future?

It uses the present tense (skoðum = we examine), but Icelandic often uses the present with a future time expression (á morgun = tomorrow) to talk about the future. You can also say:

• Við munum skoða þetta nánar á morgun. (we will)
• Við ætlum að skoða þetta nánar á morgun. (we intend/are going to)

What verb form is skoðum, and how do you conjugate skoða?

Skoðum is 1st person plural present indicative of skoða (to examine/look over). Present:

• ég skoða
• þú skoðar
• hann/hún/það skoðar
• við skoðum
• þið skoðið
• þeir/þær/þau skoða

Past (just for contrast): við skoðuðum = we examined.

Why is it þetta and not það?

Both can be possible, but they feel a bit different:

• þetta = this/this thing (often the specific issue at hand, the thing we’re focused on now).
• það = it/that (more neutral or more distant). So Við skoðum þetta nánar á morgun sounds like “we’ll look at this (particular matter) more closely tomorrow.” Við skoðum það… is also fine if you just mean “it.”

What case is þetta in here, and why?

Accusative, because it’s the direct object of skoða (a transitive verb that takes the accusative). Neuter þetta happens to look the same in nominative and accusative.

• Neuter: nominative/accusative þetta, dative þessu, genitive þessa.

Can I start the sentence with the time phrase?

Yes. Icelandic is a verb-second (V2) language, so the finite verb stays in the second position:

• Á morgun skoðum við þetta nánar. You can also say: Á morgun munum við skoða þetta nánar.

Where should nánar go? Can I say “Við skoðum nánar þetta …”?

Put nánar right after the object: the idiom is skoða eitthvað nánar.

• Natural: Við skoðum þetta nánar á morgun.
• Unnatural: Við skoðum nánar þetta á morgun.

What exactly is nánar?

An adverb meaning “more closely / in more detail.” It’s the comparative adverb related to the adjective nánur (close). As an adjective, the comparative is nánari (e.g., nánari upplýsingar = further details). Note: nánast often means “almost” in modern usage.

What’s the difference between á morgun and í morgun?

• á morgun = tomorrow
• í morgun = this morning Related:
• í fyrramálið = tomorrow morning
• á morgnana = in the mornings (habitually)

How do I make this a yes/no question or a negative?

• Yes/no: move the verb first (V1 in questions):
  • Skoðum við þetta nánar á morgun?
• Negative: place ekki after the finite verb:
  • Við skoðum þetta ekki nánar á morgun.

Are there good synonyms for skoða in this context?

Yes, depending on nuance:

• athuga = check, look into
• fara yfir = go over, review
• rannsaka = investigate (more formal/thorough)
• kíkja á = have a quick look at (informal)
• líta á = look at (glance/consider) For “look into (a matter),” skoða, athuga, or fara yfir are most typical.

What’s the difference between við and okkur?

They’re the same pronoun in different cases:

• við = we (nominative; subject)
• okkur = us (dative/accusative; object)
• okkar = our/of us (genitive)

Any tips for pronouncing the tricky letters and words?

• þ (in þetta) = voiceless th (as in “thing”).
• ð (in við, skoðum) = voiced th (as in “this”), often quite soft.
• á (in á morgun, nánar) = “ow” as in “cow.” Approximate whole sentence: “VITH SKOH-thoom THET-ta NOW-nar ow MOR-gun.” (R is tapped/trilled lightly.)