Breakdown of Við lokum glugganum í gróðurhúsinu svo að hitastigið verði ekki of lágt.
glugginn
the window
ekki
not
við
we
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
verða
to become; will be
of
too
lágur
low
loka
to close (+ Dative) / to close (shop/counter shuts)
gróðurhúsið
the greenhouse
svo að
so that
hitastigið
the temperature (measured in degrees)
Questions & Answers about Við lokum glugganum í gróðurhúsinu svo að hitastigið verði ekki of lágt.
Why do we use verði here instead of the standard present tense verður?
The conjunction svo að (so that) introduces a goal or purpose. In Icelandic, expressing a purpose triggers the subjunctive mood, which is used for hypothetical or desired outcomes. Therefore, the indicative verður changes to the present subjunctive verði.
What case is glugganum and why?
It is in the dative case. The verb loka (to close) governs the dative case, meaning the object being closed must take that case. This is why the masculine noun gluggi becomes glugganum when the definite article is added.
Why does the preposition í trigger the dative case in í gróðurhúsinu?
The preposition í takes the dative case when it describes a static location, answering the question 'where?'. If it were describing movement into a place, answering 'to where?', it would take the accusative case. Since the window is simply located in the greenhouse, dative is correct here.
Why is the adjective lágt used instead of the dictionary form lágur?
lágt is the neuter singular form of the adjective lágur (low). Adjectives must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. It describes hitastigið (the temperature), which is a neuter noun, so the adjective must take the neuter ending.
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