Question 1

Why is hann used to mean "it" here?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, pronouns must match the grammatical gender of the noun they replace. The word for a seal (selur) is a masculine noun. Therefore, even though we say "it" in English, you must use the masculine pronoun hann to refer back to the seal.

Question 2

Why does the verb hreyfist end in -st?

Accepted Answer

This is the middle voice form of the verb hreyfa (to move). While hreyfa means to move something else (like an object), adding the -st ending shows that the action is happening to the subject itself. Since the seal is physically moving its own body, we use the middle voice hreyfast, which conjugates to hreyfist for "he/it".

Question 3

Why is the word for seal (selinn) in the accusative case here?

Accepted Answer

The phrase horfa á (to look at) always forces the object that follows it into the accusative case. While the preposition á can sometimes take the dative case to describe a location, with horfa it is a fixed phrase taking the accusative. Selinn is the accusative, definite form of the masculine noun selur.

Question 4

This lesson teaches the existential það (there is/are). Why isn't það used in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The existential það is a dummy word used to introduce new, indefinite subjects into a sentence. Because both subjects in this sentence are specific, definite pronouns—við (we) and hann (he/it)—there is no place for it. You would only use it if the subject was indefinite, for example: Það er selur þarna (There is a seal over there).

Við erum að horfa á selinn, en hann hreyfist ekki.

Breakdown of Við erum að horfa á selinn, en hann hreyfist ekki.

Questions & Answers about Við erum að horfa á selinn, en hann hreyfist ekki.

Learn Við erum að horfa á selinn, en hann hreyfist ekki and more in Icelandic