Breakdown of Hann féll á prófinu í vor.
hann
he
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
prófið
the exam
vorið
the spring
falla
to fail (an exam); to fall (formal)
Questions & Answers about Hann féll á prófinu í vor.
Why is féll used here instead of a direct translation for "failed"?
In Icelandic, the verb falla literally means "to fall," but when paired with the preposition á (falla á), it means "to fail" a test or a class. You are essentially saying he "fell on" the exam.
Why is prófinu in the dative case?
The preposition á can take either the accusative or dative case. In this fixed phrase, falla á einhverju (to fail something), the preposition á always governs the dative case. Prófinu is the dative form of prófið (the exam).
How do we know í vor means the spring that just passed, rather than next spring?
The phrase í vor translates to "this spring." It can refer to either the spring that just passed or the upcoming spring. Because the verb féll is in the past tense, í vor naturally refers to the past.
Why does í vor use the accusative case for the word vor?
When talking about a specific time or season with the preposition í (like í vor, í sumar, or í haust), the season always takes the accusative case. Because vor is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its nominative form.
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