Object Pronoun Shift
With sentence adverbs like ekki (not), aldrei (never), and alltaf (always), regular noun objects usually come after the adverb (e.g., Ég sé ekki bókina).
But if the object is an unstressed pronoun (like það, hann, hana, or okkur), it shifts before the adverb. This is called pronoun shift, and it applies strictly in main clauses.
| The customs officer does not see it. | Tollvörðurinn sér það ekki. |
| The customs officer always stops us, doesn't he? | Tollvörðurinn stoppar okkur alltaf, er það ekki? |
This shift happens with all personal pronouns. Watch how the masculine pronoun hann (him/it) jumps in front of aldrei (never):
| The cigar is expensive. I never smoke it. | Vindillinn er dýr. Ég reyki hann aldrei. |
Shift with Inverted Word Order
Because Icelandic is a V2 language (the verb is the second element), starting a clause with a linking word or introductory phrase pushes the subject immediately after the verb.
When this happens, the object pronoun follows the subject, but it still stays in front of the adverb. Notice the resulting word order: Verb - Subject - Pronoun - Adverb.
| The quantity is too much, therefore we do not take it. | Magnið er of mikið, þess vegna tökum við það ekki. |
Feminine and Dative Pronouns
Pronoun shift applies to all genders and cases. Here is the feminine accusative pronoun hana (her/it):
| The fine is high. We never reduce it. | Sektin er há. Við minnkum hana aldrei. |
Verbs like framvísa (to present) and smygla (to smuggle) take dative objects. Their pronouns (henni, honum, því) behave exactly the same way:
| Is the computer subject to customs duty? I always present it. | Er tölvan tollskyld? Ég framvísa henni alltaf. |
| The beer is expensive. We sometimes smuggle it. | Bjórinn er dýr. Við smyglum honum stundum. |