Ég tek það gamla.

Taka is the infinitive, meaning to take. In a full sentence, Icelandic usually uses a conjugated verb, not the infinitive.

Here, tek means I take or I am taking.

So:

• að taka = to take
• ég tek = I take

This is a present-tense form, and it is somewhat irregular, so it does not stay as taka.

Ég means I.

In Icelandic, subject pronouns are often included, especially in basic sentences, so ég tek is the normal way to say I take.

Because Icelandic verbs change form depending on the subject, the verb already gives some information, but learners should usually include the pronoun unless they have a specific reason not to.

In this sentence, það is functioning like that or it/that one, depending on context.

With gamla, the phrase það gamla means something like:

• that old one
• the old one
• the old thing

The exact English translation depends on context. Icelandic often uses það with an adjective to refer to a thing that is understood from the situation.

This is one of the most common questions, because Icelandic adjectives change form.

The base form is:

• gamall = old (masculine nominative singular)

But adjectives must agree with the noun or pronoun they go with in:

• gender
• number
• case
• definiteness/weak vs. strong form

In það gamla, the adjective is in the weak form, and -a is the correct ending here.

So gamla is not a different word; it is the correctly inflected form of gamall.

Icelandic adjectives have strong and weak forms.

A weak adjective is often used when the noun phrase is already definite in some way, for example with:

• a definite article
• a demonstrative
• a pronoun referring to something specific

In það gamla, the thing is already specific and identifiable, so the weak form gamla is used.

Compare the general idea:

• gamall = old, in a more basic/indefinite form
• það gamla = that old one / the old one, referring to something specific

It is in the accusative, because it is the direct object of tek.

In the sentence:

• Ég = subject
• tek = verb
• það gamla = object

The verb taka normally takes a direct object in the accusative case, so the phrase must appear in accusative form.

For learners, this is important because Icelandic does not keep adjectives and pronouns in a single fixed form. Their endings change depending on their role in the sentence.

Yes, it is neuter singular.

Even if the noun itself is not spoken aloud, the form tells you the understood thing is grammatically neuter. Icelandic can leave the noun unstated when it is obvious from context.

So það gamla may stand in for something like:

• það gamla hús = that old house
• or simply the old one, if the noun is understood

The important point is that the grammar points to a neuter referent.

Yes, depending on context.

The Icelandic present tense often covers meanings that English expresses in different ways, such as:

• I take that old one
• I am taking that old one
• I’ll take the old one

If someone is choosing between items, Ég tek það gamla can very naturally mean I’ll take the old one.

So the exact English version depends on the situation.

The normal, straightforward order here is:

• Ég
  • tek
    • það gamla

That is the most neutral word order.

Icelandic does allow some flexibility in word order for emphasis, but beginners should learn and use the standard pattern first. For this sentence, Ég tek það gamla is the safest and most natural basic form.

Usually no, not in standard Icelandic.

Gamla by itself would usually need a noun or some other support. The phrase það gamla works as a complete object because það helps turn the adjective into a phrase meaning the old one or that old thing.

So:

• Ég tek það gamla. = natural
• Ég tek gamla. = generally not correct in this sense

A careful approximation is:

• Ég ≈ yeg
• tek ≈ tehk
• það ≈ thath (with voiced th as in this)
• gamla ≈ GAM-la

A rough full pronunciation guide could be:

yeg tehk thath GAM-la

A few notes:

• þ is pronounced like th in thing or this, depending on context; here it is like the th in this
• é sounds like ye
• stress usually falls on the first syllable of a word, so GAM-la

Yes, it can be very natural in context.

A speaker might say it when choosing between two or more things, for example:

• one new item and one old item
• two versions of something
• two objects where one is older

In that setting, Ég tek það gamla is a normal way to say I’ll take the old one or I’m taking that old one.