Breakdown of Ég stjórna vinnslunni með tölvunni minni.
ég
I
tölvan
the computer
minn
my (m, f, n: minn, mín, mitt)
með
with
stjórna
to control
vinnslan
the processing
Questions & Answers about Ég stjórna vinnslunni með tölvunni minni.
Why is vinnslunni (the processing) in the dative case?
The verb stjórna (to control or manage) dictates the case of its object, and it always requires the dative case. Therefore, the nominative vinnsla becomes vinnslu, and adding the definite article makes it vinnslunni.
Why does the preposition með trigger the dative case for tölvunni?
The preposition með can take either the accusative or the dative case. It takes the dative when it indicates an instrument or tool being used to perform an action (doing something "by means of" the computer). If it meant bringing the computer along with you, it would take the accusative.
Since this lesson covers nouns ending in '-un', are vinnslunni and tölvunni examples of those?
Actually, no! It's easy to mix them up because they end in "-unni" here, but both vinnsla and tölva are weak feminine nouns that end in -a in their base form. In the dative, they change to vinnslu and tölvu. When you add the feminine dative definite article -nni, you get vinnslunni and tölvunni. A true "-un" noun like verslun (shop) would look different with the article: versluninni.
Why do we say tölvunni minni (literally "the computer my") instead of just tölvu minni?
In Icelandic, it is the standard and most natural phrasing to use the definite form of the noun before a possessive pronoun. minni is the dative feminine singular form of minn (my), perfectly matching the gender, number, and case of tölvunni.
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