ELONIO
Log inSign up

Settu tappann vel á flöskuna svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna.

Settu tappann vel á flöskuna svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna.
Put the cap firmly on the bottle so the water does not go into the bag.
FromLesson 62inHardcore Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Settu tappann vel á flöskuna svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna.

Why is settu used instead of setja?

Settu is the imperative form of setja and means put! when speaking to one person.

  • setja = to put
  • settu = put! (to one person)
  • setjið = put! (to more than one person, or polite/plural)

So the sentence begins with a direct instruction.

What does tappann mean exactly, and why does it have that ending?

Tappi means cap, stopper, or cork, depending on context. Here it means the bottle’s cap/stopper.

Tappann is the definite accusative singular form, so it means the cap.

Why accusative? Because it is the direct object of settu:

  • Settu hvað? → tappann

The ending -ann is just the form this noun takes in that case.

What does vel mean here?

Vel literally means well, but in this sentence it is more natural to understand it as:

  • properly
  • securely
  • firmly
  • possibly tightly

So Settu tappann vel á flöskuna means not just put the cap on the bottle, but make sure you put it on properly.

Why is it á flöskuna and not á flöskunni?

Because á can take either the accusative or the dative, and the choice depends on meaning:

  • accusative: movement or placement onto something
  • dative: location on something

Here, the cap is being put onto the bottle, so Icelandic uses the accusative:

  • á flöskuna = onto the bottle

If you were just describing where the cap already is, you would use the dative:

  • Tappinn er á flöskunni = The cap is on the bottle
Why does the sentence use svo?

Here svo means so that or in order that. It introduces a purpose clause.

So this part:

  • svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna

means:

  • so that the water does not go into the bag

It shows the reason for the instruction: put the cap on properly so that the water won’t leak into the bag.

Why is it fari instead of fer?

Fari is the present subjunctive of fara.

After a command or instruction, Icelandic often uses svo + subjunctive to express purpose, intention, or prevention:

  • Settu ... svo vatnið fari ekki ...

This is the pattern a learner should notice:

If you used fer, that would be the indicative form and would sound less like a purpose clause and more like a plain statement of fact.

Why is it vatnið instead of just vatn?

Vatnið means the water. Icelandic uses the definite form here because it refers to the specific water being talked about, namely the water in the bottle.

Also, vatnið is the subject of fari, so it is in the nominative.

English often says just water in cases where Icelandic more naturally uses the water.

Why is it í töskuna and not í töskunni?

This is the same kind of case contrast as with á flöskuna.

With í:

Here the idea is that the water might go into the bag, so Icelandic uses the accusative:

  • í töskuna = into the bag

If you were describing water already inside the bag, you would say:

  • Vatnið er í töskunni = The water is in the bag
Why does ekki come after fari?

In Icelandic, ekki usually comes after the finite verb.

So in:

  • vatnið fari ekki

the finite verb is fari, and ekki follows it.

That word order is very normal in Icelandic:

  • hann kemur ekki
  • þau skilja ekki
  • vatnið fari ekki

So this sentence follows a common pattern.

Why is the order svo vatnið fari ekki ... and not svo fari vatnið ekki ...?

Because after svo, Icelandic normally uses ordinary subordinate clause word order, where the subject comes before the finite verb:

  • svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna

So the neutral order is:

  • svo
    • subject
      • verb
        • ekki

A different order such as svo fari vatnið ekki ... could appear in special contexts for emphasis or style, but it is not the basic pattern learners should copy first.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Icelandic grammar?”
Icelandic grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Icelandic

Master Icelandic — from Settu tappann vel á flöskuna svo vatnið fari ekki í töskuna to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Icelandic→