Question 1

How is the noun mætinguna formed from a verb?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the verb mæta, which means "to attend" or "to show up". You can create a feminine noun out of many verbs by dropping the final -a and adding the suffix -ing. This gives us mæting (attendance). Here, we add the definite feminine accusative ending -una because it is "the attendance" and acts as the direct object of the verb bæta (to improve).

Question 2

Why is ráðstefnu in the dative case here?

Accepted Answer

The preposition á takes the dative case when referring to a fixed point in time, a location, or an event where an action takes place (rather than movement towards it). Since the attendance is happening at the conference, the feminine noun ráðstefna changes to its dative form, ráðstefnu.

Question 3

Why is the word for "next" written as næstu instead of næsta?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. Because ráðstefnu is a feminine noun in the dative singular, the adjective takes the weak feminine dative ending, making it næstu. If the noun were masculine or neuter in the dative case, you would use næsta instead.

Question 4

What is the difference between verðum and verðum að in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

On its own, the verb verða means "to become" or "will be" (future tense). However, when you use verða followed by að and an infinitive verb (like bæta), the meaning changes completely to "must" or "have to". Therefore, við verðum að bæta translates to "we must improve".

Við verðum að bæta mætinguna á næstu ráðstefnu.

Breakdown of Við verðum að bæta mætinguna á næstu ráðstefnu.

Questions & Answers about Við verðum að bæta mætinguna á næstu ráðstefnu.

Learn Við verðum að bæta mætinguna á næstu ráðstefnu and more in Icelandic