Breakdown of Eru þeir að krefjast þess að bandamaðurinn geti leyst kreppuna?
vera
to be
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
þeir
they (m)
að
that (conjunction)
geta
to be able to
leysa
to solve
krefjast
to demand
bandamaðurinn
the ally
kreppan
the crisis
Questions & Answers about Eru þeir að krefjast þess að bandamaðurinn geti leyst kreppuna?
Why is geti used here instead of the regular present tense getur?
Geti is the present subjunctive form of geta (to be able to), which is a focus of this lesson. It is triggered by the verb krefjast (to demand). Verbs expressing a demand, wish, or requirement force the verb in the following að (that) clause into the subjunctive mood.
Why is the word þess inserted right before að?
The verb krefjast governs the genitive case, meaning the object you demand must be in the genitive. When you demand that an action happens rather than a physical object, Icelandic inserts the genitive pronoun þess (of it) to satisfy the verb's case requirement. It literally reads like demanding of it that the ally can solve the crisis.
Why is the verb leyst in a past-like form if the crisis hasn't been solved yet?
Leyst is the supine form (the form normally used after 'to have') of the verb leysa (to solve). As a quick refresher: unlike most helper verbs that take the infinitive, the verb geta (can / to be able to) must always be followed by the supine form of the main verb.
Is krefjast a middle voice verb?
Yes! You can tell by the -st ending. While the active verb krefja exists and also means 'to demand', the middle voice krefjast is the standard, most common way to say 'to demand' or 'to require' in everyday Icelandic.
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