Breakdown of Þú þurrkar alltaf rykið hverja helgi.
þú
you
alltaf
always
helgin
the weekend
hver
each / every
þurrka
to wipe
rykið
the dust
Questions & Answers about Þú þurrkar alltaf rykið hverja helgi.
Why is it hverja helgi in the accusative case instead of hver helgi?
Time expressions that describe how often something happens (like 'every weekend') usually take the accusative case in Icelandic. Because helgi (weekend) is a feminine word, the pronoun hver (every) has to match it in the feminine accusative form, becoming hverja.
What is the difference between saying hverja helgi and alla helgina?
Hverja helgi means 'every weekend', referring to an event that repeats. If you said alla helgina, it would mean 'the whole weekend' or 'all weekend long', referring to the entire duration of a single weekend.
Is þurrka rykið the normal way to say 'to dust' in Icelandic?
Yes! While English uses the specific verb 'to dust', Icelandic expresses this literally as 'wiping the dust' (að þurrka rykið). The verb þurrka can mean to wipe, dry, or mop depending on the context.
What case is rykið (the dust) in here?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb þurrka (to wipe). Because ryk (dust) is a neuter noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative dictionary form. Adding the neuter definite article gives us rykið in both cases.
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