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Vélin byrjaði að titra svo ég ýtti á rofann.

Vélin byrjaði að titra svo ég ýtti á rofann.
The machine started to vibrate, so I pressed the switch.
From Lesson 269:Beginning and stopping (byrja að, hætta að)·Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Vélin byrjaði að titra svo ég ýtti á rofann.

Why do we need the word að between byrjaði and titra?
The verb byrja (to begin) requires the infinitive marker að when it is followed by another verb. This is the standard way to express starting an action in Icelandic, directly mirroring the English structure 'started to vibrate'.
I learned that ýta (to push) takes a dative object. Why is rofann in the accusative case here?
You are right that ýta by itself takes the dative when you physically push a heavy object. However, when you press a button, key, or switch, Icelandic uses the phrase ýta á followed by the accusative case. That is why the masculine noun rofi takes the accusative definite ending in rofann.
Does the -in ending on Vélin mean it is a neuter noun?
No, vél (machine) is a feminine noun. The -in suffix is the standard definite article for feminine words in the nominative case. If it were neuter, it would typically end in -ið.
Does the word svo (so) force the verb to come before the subject in the second half of the sentence?
Not here. In this context, svo acts as a simple coordinating conjunction linking two complete thoughts. Therefore, the second clause keeps the normal subject-verb order: ég (subject) followed by ýtti (verb).

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