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Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu, því hundurinn skilur eftir hár á gólfteppinu.

Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu, því hundurinn skilur eftir hár á gólfteppinu.
She vacuums in the bedroom too, because the dog leaves hair on the rug.

Breakdown of Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu, því hundurinn skilur eftir hár á gólfteppinu.

hundurinn
the dog
hún
she
líka
too
á
on
í
in
svefnherbergið
the bedroom
því
because
hárið
the hair
ryksuga
to vacuum
gólfteppið
the rug
skilja eftir
to leave
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Questions & Answers about Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu, því hundurinn skilur eftir hár á gólfteppinu.

Why is it Hún ryksugar and not something like Hún ryksuga?

Because ryksuga is the infinitive (to vacuum), while ryksugar is the present tense form for 3rd person singular (she vacuums / is vacuuming).

  • Infinitive: (að) ryksuga
  • Present (3sg): (hún) ryksugar
  • Past (3sg): (hún) ryksugaði
What does líka do here, and could it go somewhere else in the sentence?

Líka means also/too. Its position is flexible, but it can slightly change emphasis.

  • Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu = She vacuums in the bedroom too (in addition to other places).
  • Hún ryksugar í svefnherberginu líka is also possible and often sounds similar, with líka tagging on at the end.
Why does í take svefnherberginu (dative) instead of a different form?

In Icelandic, í can take:

  • accusative for movement/direction (into)
  • dative for location (in)

Here it’s location (in the bedroom), so it uses dative:

  • Movement: í svefnherbergið = into the bedroom (accusative)
  • Location: í svefnherberginu = in the bedroom (dative)
What is the difference between svefnherbergi and svefnherberginu?
  • svefnherbergi = a bedroom (indefinite form)
  • svefnherberginu = in the bedroom / in the bedroom (specific one) (definite + dative singular)

The ending -inu here signals definite dative singular for a neuter noun like svefnherbergi.

Why is there a comma before því?

The comma marks a break before the explanatory clause introduced by því (because/for). In Icelandic, it’s common to use a comma like this when the second part gives a reason:

  • Main clause: Hún ryksugar líka í svefnherberginu
  • Reason clause: því hundurinn skilur eftir hár á gólfteppinu
Does því always mean because?

No. Því can have different roles. Common ones:

  • As a conjunction: því = because / for (as in this sentence)
  • As a pronoun/adverb form related to það in set phrases (e.g., því að in some contexts)

If you want a very explicit because, Icelandic also often uses af því að.

Why is it hundurinn and not just hundur?

Hundurinn means the dog (definite, nominative singular). The sentence is talking about a specific dog already known in context.

  • hundur = a dog
  • hundurinn = the dog

The -inn ending is the definite article attached to the noun.

What is going on with the verb phrase skilur eftir?

Skilur eftir is a common Icelandic verb + particle combination meaning leaves behind.

  • Base verb: skilja = to leave / separate / understand (context decides)
  • With particle: skilja eftir = to leave behind

In the present tense (3sg): (hundurinn) skilur eftir.

Why is eftir separated from the verb—could it be one word?

It’s normally written as two words in this construction: skilja eftir. Icelandic commonly keeps the particle separate:

  • Hundurinn skilur eftir hár = The dog leaves hair behind

In some contexts you’ll see the particle later in the clause, but it’s still separate.

Why is it hár (singular) and not hárin or a plural?

Hár here is being used like a mass/uncountable idea: hair (in general). That’s very common when you mean shedding hair as a substance.

  • hár = hair (general, not necessarily countable) If you wanted the hairs or something more specific, you might use a different form, but in everyday speech hár works well for “dog hair.”
Why is it á gólfteppinu and what case is that?

Á (on) takes:

  • dative for location (on)
  • accusative for movement (onto)

Here it’s location (on the carpet), so dative:

  • Movement: á gólfteppið = onto the carpet (accusative)
  • Location: á gólfteppinu = on the carpet (dative, definite)
What are these long nouns—are they compounds?

Yes, both are compounds, which are extremely common in Icelandic:

  • svefn-herbergi = sleep + room = bedroom
  • gólf-teppi = floor + carpet/rug = carpet

Learning to spot the pieces often helps with vocabulary growth.

How does word order work in the second part: því hundurinn skilur...?

The clause after því keeps normal Icelandic main-clause word order here: subject + verb:

  • hundurinn (subject) + skilur (verb)

Many Icelandic clauses follow a verb-second (V2) tendency in main-clause style structures, and this sentence fits that pattern.