Breakdown of Við þurfum varanlega lausn, ekki bara tímabundna hjálp.
ekki
not
við
we
þurfa
to need
hjálpin
the help
Questions & Answers about Við þurfum varanlega lausn, ekki bara tímabundna hjálp.
Why is it þurfum and not þurfa?
Þurfa is the infinitive, meaning to need.
Þurfum is the present-tense form that goes with við = we.
So:
- að þurfa = to need
- við þurfum = we need
Icelandic verbs change form depending on the subject, so við þurfum is the normal way to say we need.
What case are lausn and hjálp in here?
They are in the accusative singular because they are direct objects of þurfa.
The verb þurfa usually takes an accusative object:
- þurfa lausn = need a solution
- þurfa hjálp = need help
In this sentence, the noun forms lausn and hjálp happen to look the same as their nominative singular forms. The case is easier to spot on the adjectives in front of them.
Why do the adjectives varanlega and tímabundna have those endings?