Breakdown of Ég sný lyklinum í hurðinni.
ég
I
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
hurðin
the door
lykillinn
the key
snúa
to turn (+ Dative)
Questions & Answers about Ég sný lyklinum í hurðinni.
Why is lyklinum in the dative case? Usually, the direct object is in the accusative.
The verb snúa (to turn) requires its object to be in the dative case. In Icelandic, certain verbs demand the dative instead of the accusative, often when the action involves moving, turning, or steering an object.
How is the word lyklinum formed from the base word lykill?
Lykill (key) is a masculine noun. When it changes to the dative case, it drops its second vowel to become lykli. Then, we add the definite article (the attached ending for 'the'). For dative masculine nouns, this ending is -num, giving us lyklinum.
Why does í take the dative case (hurðinni) here instead of the accusative?
The preposition í takes the dative case when it describes a stationary location, like a key already resting inside a lock. If the sentence described motion from the outside to the inside, like inserting the key into the door, í would take the accusative case instead.
I don't recognize the verb sný. What is the dictionary form?
The infinitive (the dictionary form) is snúa (to turn). It is a strong verb that undergoes a vowel change in the present tense. For the first person ('I'), the -úa changes to -ý, making it ég sný.
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