Breakdown of Við skulum lækka gjaldið strax.
við
we
strax
right away
skulu
to shall / to promise to
lækka
to lower / to reduce
gjaldið
the fee
Questions & Answers about Við skulum lækka gjaldið strax.
How does skulum change the meaning compared to just saying Við lækkum gjaldið?
Using the modal verb skulu (here conjugated as skulum for "we") turns a simple future action ("we will lower") into a firm promise or strong intention ("we shall lower"). It shows commitment rather than just stating a fact.
Why isn't the infinitive marker að used before lækka?
Because skulu is a true modal verb in Icelandic. Just like with vilja (to want) or munu (will), it is followed directly by the bare infinitive of the main verb. So it is Við skulum lækka, never Við skulum að lækka.
Við skulum is often used to mean "let's". Does it mean "let's" in this sentence?
It absolutely can! If you are speaking to a co-worker, this translates perfectly as "Let's lower the fee immediately." However, if you are speaking directly to a customer, it takes on the meaning taught in this lesson: a firm, reassuring promise ("We shall/will lower the fee immediately.")
What case is gjaldið (the fee) in here, and why?
It is in the accusative case. The verb lækka (to lower) takes an accusative object when someone is actively lowering something. Because gjald is a neuter word, its definite form gjaldið happens to look exactly the same in both the nominative and accusative cases.
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