Breakdown of Ég myndi fá aðstoðarmanninn til að útskýra verkferlið.
ég
I
að
to (infinitive marker)
fá
to get
til
to
útskýra
to explain
aðstoðarmaðurinn
the assistant
myndu
would (plural)
verkferlið
the workflow
Questions & Answers about Ég myndi fá aðstoðarmanninn til að útskýra verkferlið.
How does the causative construction "fá ... til að" work in this sentence?
This construction means "to get someone to do something." The verb fá takes the person being persuaded as its direct object, which is why aðstoðarmanninn is in the accusative case. This is then followed by til að and the infinitive verb útskýra (to explain).
Why is aðstoðarmanninn used instead of aðstoðarmaðurinn?
Because the assistant is the direct object being "gotten" or persuaded by the verb fá, the noun must be in the accusative case. The nominative base aðstoðarmaður changes to aðstoðarmann in the accusative, and adding the masculine definite article gives us aðstoðarmanninn.
What does myndi add to the sentence?
It forms the conditional mood. Myndi is the past subjunctive form of the auxiliary verb munu. Combined with the infinitive fá, it translates to "would get," making the sentence describe a hypothetical situation or a polite suggestion rather than a hard fact.
Is verkferlið also in the accusative case because of the verb fá?
No, verkferlið (the workflow) is the direct object of the infinitive verb útskýra (to explain), not fá. It is in the accusative case because útskýra governs the accusative. It is a neuter noun combining verk (work) and ferli (process), with the definite article -ð attached at the end.
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