Breakdown of Ég myndi láta bóna bílinn fyrir þig.
bíllinn
the car
ég
I
þú
you
láta
to let
fyrir
for (fyrir þig)
myndu
would (plural)
bóna
to wax
Questions & Answers about Ég myndi láta bóna bílinn fyrir þig.
How does this sentence fit the 'causative passive' structure from the lesson?
The verb láta acts as the causative ('to have something done'), followed by the action bóna and the object receiving the action, bílinn. Because the sentence leaves out the person actually doing the work, the action becomes passive in meaning ('have the car waxed' rather than 'make someone wax the car').
Why is the active infinitive bóna used here instead of a passive form, if the English translation is 'waxed'?
In Icelandic causative constructions with láta, you use the active infinitive form even when the English translation feels passive. The passive meaning is implied because the agent (the person waxing) isn't mentioned. You are essentially saying 'I would have [someone] wax the car.'
Why is bílinn in the accusative case here?
It is the direct object of the verb bóna (to wax). In this construction, the noun takes its case from the specific action being done to it, not from láta. Since you wax a car, the masculine noun bíll becomes the accusative bílinn.
Why does the preposition fyrir take the accusative þig in this sentence instead of the dative?
The preposition fyrir takes the accusative case when it means 'for' in the sense of 'on behalf of' or 'for the benefit of' someone. If it were describing a physical location (like being parked 'in front of' you), it would trigger the dative case instead.
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