Learn Icelandic: Hann lánar mér oft stílabókina og vasareikninn. - He often lends me the notebook and the calculator.

Hann lánar mér oft stílabókina og vasareikninn.

He often lends me the notebook and the calculator.

Breakdown of Hann lánar mér oft stílabókina og vasareikninn.

Questions & Answers about Hann lánar mér oft stílabókina og vasareikninn.

Why is mér in the dative case while the items being lent are in the accusative?

The verb lána (to lend) takes two objects. The person receiving the item (the indirect object) takes the dative case (mér), and the items being lent (the direct objects) take the accusative case (stílabókina and vasareikninn). This is the standard pattern for verbs of giving, sending, and lending.

Why does the adverb oft go between the two objects?

Adverbs of frequency like oft (often) usually go in the middle of the sentence in Icelandic. When a verb takes an indirect and a direct object, the most natural place for this short adverb is right after the dative receiver (mér) and before the accusative items being lent.

How is the definite article attached to stílabókina?

Stílabók (notebook) is a feminine noun. In the accusative case, the base word itself doesn't change from the nominative, but you add the feminine accusative definite article suffix -ina to get stílabókina (the notebook).

Why does vasareikninn end in -inn? Doesn't that usually mark the nominative case for masculine nouns?