Breakdown of Ég vil afreka mikið í þessu starfi.
ég
I
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
vilja
to want (to will, be willing)
þessi
this (m/f)
mikill
great, much (adjective: snjórinn er mikill)
starfið
the job
afreka
to accomplish
Questions & Answers about Ég vil afreka mikið í þessu starfi.
Why is there no að before afreka? Doesn't 'I want to accomplish' need að for the 'to'?
In Icelandic, the verb vilja (to want) acts like a modal verb. It takes a bare infinitive directly after it, so you just say ég vil afreka without using að.
Why are we using the dative case for í þessu starfi?
The preposition í takes the dative case when describing a static location or state of being, like holding a position in a job. It would only take the accusative case if there was a sense of motion or moving into the job.
Why is the word for 'this' spelled þessu here?
The demonstrative pronoun þessi (this) has to match the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. Since starf is a neuter noun in the singular dative case, þessi becomes þessu.
How would I say 'without accomplishing a lot' to practice this lesson's grammar?
You would use the phrase án þess að (without doing). 'Without accomplishing a lot' translates to án þess að afreka mikið. Notice that unlike vilja, this structure does require að before the infinitive verb.
What is the difference between starf and vinna for the word 'job'?
While both can mean 'work' or 'job', starf refers more to a specific profession, role, or career position. Vinna is a broader word for the daily act of working, labor, or the workplace itself. Using starf sounds very natural when talking about achieving career goals.
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