Breakdown of Tæknimaðurinn á að laga kerfið.
að
to (infinitive marker)
laga
to fix
eiga
to own / to have (a relationship)
tæknimaðurinn
the technician
kerfið
the system
Questions & Answers about Tæknimaðurinn á að laga kerfið.
Why does á mean "has to" here instead of "owns"?
When the verb eiga (to own) is combined with að plus an infinitive verb, it means "to be supposed to," "ought to," or "to have to." Here, á að laga indicates that fixing the system is the technician's expected task.
Since the current lesson is about dative passive subjects, would kerfið be in the dative case if we made this sentence passive?
No, it would be nominative! The verb laga (to fix) takes an accusative object. Objects only become dative passive subjects if the active verb dictates the dative case. Since laga takes the accusative, the passive version just uses the nominative: Kerfið á að vera lagað (The system is supposed to be fixed).
Why doesn't the ending of kerfið change even though it is the direct object?
Kerfi (system) is a neuter noun. In Icelandic, neuter nouns always have the exact same form in the nominative and accusative cases. This applies whether the definite article (-ð) is attached or not.
How is the noun tæknimaðurinn constructed?
It is a compound word formed from tækni (technology) and maður (person or man). The -inn at the end is the masculine definite article, turning "a technician" into "the technician".
What is the difference between saying á að and þarf að in this context?
Using þarf að laga (needs to fix) would express a strict physical or logical necessity. Using á að laga (is supposed to fix) implies a social obligation or expectation, meaning it is simply part of the technician's assigned schedule or duties.
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