Breakdown of Við getum ekki haldið áfram nema fjármögnunin sé örugg.
vera
to be
ekki
not
við
we
halda áfram
to continue, keep going (halda áfram)
geta
to be able to
öruggur
safe
nema
except, unless
fjármögnunin
the financing
Questions & Answers about Við getum ekki haldið áfram nema fjármögnunin sé örugg.
How is the word fjármögnunin formed from a verb?
It comes from the verb fjármagna (to fund or finance). By adding the suffix -un, we create the feminine noun fjármögnun (funding). Notice how the a in -magna changes to ö because of the u in the suffix, which is a classic example of a U-shift. Finally, the feminine definite article -in is added to the end to mean 'the funding'.
Why is the verb sé used here instead of er?
The conjunction nema (unless) introduces a condition that is hypothetical or not yet a reality, so it requires the subjunctive mood. sé is the subjunctive form of vera (to be) for the third-person singular, replacing the normal indicative form er.
Why does the sentence use haldið áfram instead of just halda?
halda áfram is a phrasal verb that means 'to continue' or 'to keep going', whereas halda on its own usually means 'to hold' or 'to think'. It appears here in the form haldið because the modal verb geta (can) always forces the main verb into the supine form.
Why is the adjective örugg used instead of öruggt?
Adjectives in Icelandic must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Because fjármögnunin is a feminine noun in the nominative singular, the adjective must take the feminine nominative singular form, which is örugg.
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