Breakdown of Hann lánar mér oft stílabókina og vasareikninn.
og
and
ég
I
hann
he
oft
often
lána
to lend
stílabókin
the notebook
vasareiknirinn
the calculator
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?
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?
Vasareiknir (calculator) is a masculine noun. In the accusative case, it drops its final -r to become vasareikni. To make it definite (the calculator), you add the masculine accusative article suffix -nn, resulting in vasareikninn. It happens to look exactly like the nominative definite form, but here it is accusative because it is a direct object.
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