Breakdown of Dyravörðurinn hleypir þér ekki inn nema þú sért á gestalistanum.
vera
to be
þú
you
ekki
not
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
inn
in (motion inwards)
nema
except, unless
dyravörðurinn
the bouncer
hleypa
to let / to allow (in, out, to pass)
gestalistinn
the guest list
Questions & Answers about Dyravörðurinn hleypir þér ekki inn nema þú sért á gestalistanum.
Why is sért used here instead of the normal present tense ert?
The conjunction nema (meaning "unless") introduces a condition that is hypothetical or not yet true. In Icelandic, this triggers the subjunctive mood. The word sért is the present subjunctive form of the verb vera (to be) for the pronoun þú.
Why does the sentence use the dative pronoun þér instead of the accusative þig?
The verb hleypa (to let or allow someone to move) requires its object to be in the dative case. Therefore, the normal pronoun þú changes to þér.
What are the parts that make up the word dyravörðurinn?
Why is gestalistanum in the dative case after á?
The preposition á (on) takes the dative case when describing a static location, like already being written on a list. It generally only takes the accusative case when describing an action of moving onto something.
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