Breakdown of Notandinn kvartar yfir því að þurfa að uppfæra forritið.
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
að
to (infinitive marker)
þurfa
to need
yfir
past / over, across
kvarta
to complain
uppfæra
to update
notandinn
the user
forritið
the program
Questions & Answers about Notandinn kvartar yfir því að þurfa að uppfæra forritið.
Why do we need því here? Couldn't we just say "kvartar yfir að"?
In Icelandic, a preposition like yfir usually cannot connect directly to an að clause or an infinitive verb. It needs a "dummy" pronoun to attach to. We use the pronoun það, which changes to því here because the preposition yfir governs the dative case when used with kvarta.
Why are there two aðs in a row with að þurfa að uppfæra?
English uses an -ing form here ("about having to update"), but Icelandic uses infinitives. The prepositional phrase yfir því triggers the first infinitive: að þurfa (to need). Then, because the verb þurfa always requires að before the next verb, we get the second one: að uppfæra (to update).
Does kvarta always take the preposition yfir?
Yes, when you are complaining about something, the fixed phrase is kvarta yfir (+ dative). It is best to memorize the verb, its preposition, and the case it rules together as a single chunk.
What kind of noun is Notandinn?
Notandi (user) is a masculine noun ending in -andi. These nouns usually describe a person doing an action, much like "-er" words in English (like "use" to "user"). To say "the user," you just attach the masculine definite article -inn to the end to get notandinn.
Learn Notandinn kvartar yfir því að þurfa að uppfæra forritið and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free