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Ég ætla að skila bókinni í bókasafnið á morgun.

Ég ætla að skila bókinni í bókasafnið á morgun.
I am going to return the book to the library tomorrow.
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Questions & Answers about Ég ætla að skila bókinni í bókasafnið á morgun.

Why is there að after Ég ætla?

In Icelandic, ætla (to intend/plan) is commonly followed by að + infinitive:

  • Ég ætla að skila = I intend/plan to return Here að is an infinitive marker (similar to English to), not a preposition.
Is Ég ætla að … a future tense?

Not a dedicated future tense—it's a very common future meaning construction. Icelandic often expresses future plans with:

  • ætla að + infinitive (intention/plan) Other options include:
  • Present tense with context: Ég skila bókinni á morgun. (very natural)
  • munu for a more “will”/prediction feel: Ég mun skila bókinni á morgun.
Why is the verb in second position: Ég ætla …?

Icelandic is generally a V2 (verb-second) language in main clauses. That means the finite verb (ætla) comes in the second “slot”:

  • Ég (1st slot) + ætla (2nd slot) + rest
    If you start with a time phrase, the verb still stays second:
  • Á morgun ætla ég að skila bókinni í bókasafnið.
Why is it bókinni and not bókin?

Because skila typically takes the thing being returned in the dative case.
So bók becomes bók + definite article in dative singular → bókinni.

Quick pattern (feminine singular, definite):

  • Nominative: bókin
  • Accusative: bókina
  • Dative: bókinni
  • Genitive: bókarinnar
What case does skila govern, and is that something I just have to memorize?

Yes—many Icelandic verbs “govern” particular cases, and it’s often best learned with the verb.
For skila, the returned item is typically dative:

  • skila bókinni = return the book
    If there’s a recipient, that’s also commonly dative:
  • skila bókinni til hans / skila honum bókinni (patterns vary by phrasing)

A good habit: learn verbs with a sample object showing the case (e.g., skila (e-u) = “skila (someone/something-DAT)”).

Why is it í bókasafnið (not í bókasafninu)?

Because í changes meaning depending on motion vs. location:

  • í + accusative = motion into (destination)
  • í + dative = location in/inside (static)

So:

  • í bókasafnið = to/into the library (going there)
  • í bókasafninu = in the library (already there)
Why does bókasafnið look the same as nominative—shouldn’t the accusative be different?

Bókasafn is neuter, and neuter singular nominative and accusative are often identical, especially in the definite form:

  • Nominative definite: bókasafnið
  • Accusative definite: bókasafnið So the case difference is real, but the form doesn’t always show it.
What is the function of á morgun, and why á?

á morgun is a fixed, very common way to say tomorrow. It’s basically an idiomatic time expression.
You’ll see á used in several time phrases (not always predictable from English), e.g.:

  • á mánudaginn = on Monday
  • á næsta ári = next year
Can I drop Ég and just say Ætla að skila…?

Sometimes, but it depends on context. Icelandic doesn’t generally drop the subject as freely as some languages, but in casual speech (especially as an answer) it can happen:

  • Q: Hvað ætlarðu að gera á morgun?
    A: Ætla að skila bókinni í bókasafnið.
    In a standalone sentence with no context, keeping Ég is safer and more neutral.
How do I pronounce tricky parts like Ég, ætla, skila, and bókasafnið?

A few practical notes for English speakers:

  • Ég: sounds like yeh(g); the g is often very soft or barely heard.
  • æ in ætla: like eye (roughly).
  • ll in skila isn’t in this word, but note skila has a clear i vowel (more like ski-la than sky-la).
  • ó in bókinni / bókasafnið: like a long o (not the short o of book).
  • ð (not in this sentence) is like the th in this when it appears in other words.