Learn Icelandic: Stjórinn krefst tveggja ára starfsreynslu. - The boss requires two years of work experience.

Stjórinn krefst tveggja ára starfsreynslu.

The boss requires two years of work experience.

Breakdown of Stjórinn krefst tveggja ára starfsreynslu.

Questions & Answers about Stjórinn krefst tveggja ára starfsreynslu.

Why are both tveggja and ára in the genitive case here?

This is a genitive measure phrase. Just like we sometimes say 'two years' experience' in English, Icelandic uses the genitive case for both the number (tveggja) and the measurement noun (ára) to express a quantity that modifies another noun.

Is starfsreynslu also in the genitive case because of the measure phrase?

No, starfsreynslu is in the genitive case because of the verb krefst. The verb krefjast (to demand or require) always forces the object that is being required to take the genitive case.

Why does the number two (tveir) change to tveggja?

In Icelandic, the numbers 1 through 4 change their form depending on the case and gender of the noun they describe. Because ára (years) is in the genitive plural, the number must also be in the genitive plural, which is tveggja.

What is the infinitive form of krefst and why does it end in '-st'?

The infinitive is krefjast. The '-st' ending shows it is a middle voice verb. While these verbs sometimes show passive actions or things people do to each other, here it simply belongs to the standard dictionary form of the verb meaning 'to require'.