On the archery range, you will frequently need to describe if something is closer to or further from your mark.
The Spatial Comparatives Nær and Fjær
To compare distances, Icelandic uses the spatial comparatives nær (closer) and fjær (further).
These words govern the dative case directly. Unlike English, which requires prepositions (closer to, further from), Icelandic uses a bare dative object immediately after the comparative.
For example, skotmarkið (the target) becomes skotmarkinu in the dative:
| The arrow is closer to the target. | Örin er nær skotmarkinu. |
Similarly, tréð (the tree) becomes trénu:
| The shooter aims further from the tree. | Skotmaðurinn miðar fjær trénu. |
Working with Pronouns
This rule applies to pronouns just as it does to nouns. Notice how þú (you) becomes þér (dative):
| I will move the bow closer to you. | Ég skal færa skotbogann nær þér. |
When referring back to a feminine noun like miðjan (the center), use the dative pronoun henni:
| One arrow hit closer to the center, but the other landed further from it. | Ein örin hæfði nær miðjunni, en hin lenti fjær henni. |
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