Breakdown of Ekki nota kútinn ef þú kannst að synda.
þú
you
ekki
not
að
to (infinitive marker)
nota
to use
synda
to swim
kunna
to know how to
ef
if
kúturinn
the floatie
Questions & Answers about Ekki nota kútinn ef þú kannst að synda.
Why does this sentence use nota instead of the imperative form notaðu?
When telling someone not to do something, Icelandic uses ekki followed by the bare infinitive of the verb. You drop the imperative ending entirely, so instead of ekki notaðu, you just say ekki nota.
What is the base form of the word kútinn and why is it in this form here?
The base form is kútur (which can mean a cylinder, a barrel, or a swimming floatie). It is in the accusative case (kút) because it is the direct object of the verb nota. We then add the definite article (-inn) to make it kútinn (the floatie).
Why do we use kannst (from kunna) here instead of a form of vita for the concept of knowing?
In Icelandic, the verb kunna is used for knowing a skill or knowing how to do something, like swimming or speaking a language. The verb vita is strictly used for knowing facts or information.
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