The Double Accusative
When electing, naming, or calling someone something, Icelandic uses a "double accusative" structure. Both the person being chosen (the direct object) and the title they receive (the object complement) take the accusative case.
For example, with the verb kjósa (to elect), if we elect "him" (hann, accusative) to be "chairman" (formaður, nominative), the word for chairman shifts into the accusative case (formann).
| We elected him chairman. | Við kusum hann formann. |
| Who will they elect treasurer? | Hvern munu þeir kjósa gjaldkera? |
Naming and Calling
This rule also applies to verbs like nefna (to name) and kalla (to call). Whether you are officially naming someone to a post or just calling someone a friend, both nouns take the accusative.
| I name you chairman. | Ég nefni þig formann. |
| We call him a friend. | Við köllum hann vin. |
You can also use this structure with things instead of people.
| The committee calls the position a joke. | Nefndin kallar embættið brandara. |
Nominating and Appointing
In committee settings, you will often use útnefna (to nominate) and skipa (to appoint).
Notice how common committee roles decline in the accusative case:
- Words ending in -andi (like frambjóðandi, candidate) become -anda (frambjóðanda).
- Words ending in -maður (like varamaður, deputy) become -mann (varamann).
| The board nominated her candidate. | Stjórnin útnefndi hana frambjóðanda. |
| They appointed the teacher deputy. | Þeir skipuðu kennarann varamann. |
