Ég hjálpa honum að velja bindi sem passar við skyrtuna.

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Breakdown of Ég hjálpa honum að velja bindi sem passar við skyrtuna.

• hjálpa: to help
• sem: that
• velja: to choose

Questions & Answers about Ég hjálpa honum að velja bindi sem passar við skyrtuna.

Why is hjálpa the same form as the dictionary form?

The dictionary form is the infinitive að hjálpa = to help. In the present tense, the 1st person singular is also hjálpa:

• ég hjálpa = I help
• þú hjálpar = you help
• hann/hún/það hjálpar = he/she/it helps

So in this sentence, Ég hjálpa means I help, even though hjálpa looks the same as the infinitive without að.

Why is it honum and not hann?

Because hjálpa takes a dative object in Icelandic.

• hann = he
• honum = him (dative)

So:

• Ég hjálpa honum = I help him

This is something English speakers have to get used to: some Icelandic verbs require objects in cases other than the accusative.

Why is there að before velja?