Breakdown of Gestgjafinn biður þig um að framreiða fordrykkinn á þessum bakka.
að
to (infinitive marker)
þig
you (acc sg)
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
þessi
this (m/f)
biðja
to ask for
framreiða
to serve
fordrykkurinn
the welcome drink
gestgjafinn
the host
bakkinn
the tray
Questions & Answers about Gestgjafinn biður þig um að framreiða fordrykkinn á þessum bakka.
Why is the phrase 'um að' used here instead of just 'að'?
In Icelandic, when you ask someone to do something using the verb biðja (to ask/request), it takes the preposition um followed by the infinitive marker að. The structure is always biðja + [accusative person] + um að + [infinitive verb]. English just uses 'to', which is why um að can feel like an extra word at first!
Why is 'þig' in the accusative case?
The person being asked (in this case, 'you') is the direct object of the verb biðja, which requires the accusative case. That is why we use þig instead of the nominative þú or dative þér.
How do the parts of 'gestgjafinn' translate literally?
Gestgjafinn is a compound word made of gestur (guest) and gjafi (giver), plus the definite article -inn at the end. Literally, it means 'the guest-giver,' which is the Icelandic word for 'the host'.
What does the prefix 'for-' in 'fordrykkinn' mean?
The prefix for- often means 'pre-' or 'fore-', similar to English. So fordrykkur literally means 'fore-drink,' which is the perfect way to say 'welcome drink' or 'aperitif'! The suffix -inn adds 'the', making it 'the welcome drink'.
Why does 'á þessum bakka' use the dative case?
The preposition á (on) can take either the accusative or dative case. It takes the dative case when describing a stationary location where an action happens, rather than movement towards a destination. Since the serving happens on the tray, both the demonstrative pronoun þessum (this) and the noun bakka (tray) are in the dative case.
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