The Causative Construction
When you hire a professional to do a task for you, such as repairing clothes or fixing shoes, you use a causative construction. Just like saying you "get something done" in English, the structure is very similar in Icelandic.
Use the verb fá (to get) followed by the direct object, and then the past participle of the action verb. Because the object is receiving the action of fá, it takes the accusative case.
| We are supposed to get the coat fixed tomorrow. | Við eigum að fá kápuna lagfærða á morgun. |
Past Participle Agreement
In this construction, the past participle functions like an adjective describing the object. This means the past participle must agree with the object in gender, number, and case (which will always be accusative here).
Notice how the past participle's ending changes to match its accusative object:
| She had never gotten the jacket cleaned at the dry cleaner. | Hún hafði aldrei fengið jakkann hreinsaðan í fatahreinsuninni. |
| We intend to get these stains cleaned. | Við ætlum að fá þessa bletti hreinsaða. |
| Mom got these pictures framed. | Mamma fékk þessar myndir innrammaðar. |
Professional Services
You will use this pattern frequently when talking about taking items to a tradesperson or specialist, like a cobbler (skósmiðurinn) or a dry cleaner (fatahreinsunin).
Whether you are having a heel fixed or boots resoled, the grammatical rule remains the exact same: fá + accusative object + matching accusative past participle.
| We got the heel fixed by the cobbler. | Við fengum hælinn lagfærðan hjá skósmiðnum. |
| Are you going to get the boots resoled? | Ætlar þú að fá stígvélin sóluð? |