Breakdown of Viltu skipta um akgrein? Líttu fyrst í hliðarspegilinn.
þú
you
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
vilja
to want (to will, be willing)
skipta um
to change
fyrst
first (adverb)
líta
to look
akgreinin
the lane
hliðarspegillinn
the side mirror
Questions & Answers about Viltu skipta um akgrein? Líttu fyrst í hliðarspegilinn.
How does viltu get its -tu ending instead of -ðu?
The word viltu is a merged form of vilt (the "you" form of vilja, meaning "to want") and the pronoun þú. When þú attaches to a verb ending in a hard -t sound, the þ hardens into a t to match, creating the -tu suffix.
Does líttu use the exact same rule as viltu?
Yes! But here it is happening with a command (the imperative) rather than a question. The command form of "to look" is lít. When you attach þú to make it sound more natural, the þ again hardens against the t in lít, resulting in the merged word líttu.
Why is the word um included in skipta um akgrein?
In Icelandic, the verb skipta needs the preposition um when it means "to switch" or "to change" one thing for another (like clothes, tires, or lanes). Without um, skipta usually means "to divide" or "to share." Note that um always forces the following word into the accusative case.
The English translation says "lanes", so why is akgrein in the singular form?
In English, we say "change lanes" (plural) because you are moving from one to another. In Icelandic, the logic is focused on the new thing you are switching to, so you "change lane" (skipta um akgrein). Using the plural (akgreinar) would sound like you are swapping the positions of multiple lanes on the road!
Why is hliðarspegilinn in the accusative case here? Doesn't í usually take the dative?
The preposition í takes the dative case when there is no movement (just being stationary inside something), but it takes the accusative case when there is movement or direction into something. Because you are directing your gaze "into" the mirror, the action has a direction, so hliðarspegilinn (the side mirror) must be in the accusative.
Learn Viltu skipta um akgrein? Líttu fyrst í hliðarspegilinn and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free