Learn Icelandic: Þjónustufulltrúinn svaraði öllum spurningum. - The customer service representative answered all questions.

In Icelandic, the verb svara (to answer) always takes an object in the dative case. Even though the questions are the direct object of the action, the verb forces the phrase into the dative, making it öllum spurningum instead of the accusative allar spurningar.

How is the long compound noun þjónustufulltrúinn built?

It is made of þjónusta (service) and fulltrúi (representative). The first word is in its genitive (possessive) form, þjónustu, linking them together to literally mean a representative of service. The -nn at the very end is the attached definite article, meaning "the".

Why does the word for "all" take the form öllum here?

The word allur (all) must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it describes. Since spurningum is dative plural, allur also takes its dative plural form, which is öllum. Notice how both words share the same -um ending, which is very common in the dative plural.

What is the base form of spurningum and why does it end in -um?

The base form is the feminine noun spurning (a question). The -um ending is the standard marker for the dative plural for almost all nouns in Icelandic, regardless of whether they are originally masculine, feminine, or neuter.