Question 1

Why is the student in the dative case (nemandanum), but the sharpener and schoolbag are in the accusative?

Accepted Answer

This sentence uses the verb sýna (to show), which takes two objects. The person receiving the action (the indirect object) takes the dative case, so nemandi becomes nemandanum. The things being shown (the direct objects) take the accusative case, which is why we see yddarann and skólatöskuna.

Question 2

Both nemandi and yddari are weak masculine nouns. Why do their definite endings look so different here?

Accepted Answer

Because they are in different cases! For weak masculine nouns (ending in -i), both the accusative and dative singular drop the -i and add -a (so we get nemanda and yddara). The difference is the definite article suffix: the accusative adds -nn to make yddarann, while the dative adds -num to make nemandanum.

Question 3

Why does the a in taska change to an ö in skólatöskuna?

Accepted Answer

This is a U-shift. Skólataska is a weak feminine noun, which means it takes an -u ending in the accusative case to become skólatösku. That -u at the end forces the root vowel a to shift to ö. Finally, the accusative definite suffix -na is added to make skólatöskuna.

Question 4

Why is the adverb oft placed between the two objects?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, frequency adverbs like oft (often) usually come right after the verb. However, when a sentence has a dative indirect object (like nemandanum), it is very common and natural to place the adverb right after it, separating the indirect receiver from the direct objects.

Kennarinn sýnir nemandanum oft yddarann og skólatöskuna.

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