Breakdown of Pabbi lætur flísaleggja baðherbergið á morgun.
pabbinn
the dad (informal)
á morgun
tomorrow
baðherbergið
the bathroom
láta
to let
flísaleggja
to tile
Questions & Answers about Pabbi lætur flísaleggja baðherbergið á morgun.
The lesson mentions a passive infinitive construction, but flísaleggja looks like a normal active verb. Why?
In Icelandic, the construction láta plus an active infinitive translates to a passive causative in English (having something done). The verb flísaleggja is active in form, but because the person actually doing the work is left out, it functions passively. Dad is having the bathroom tiled, not tiling it himself.
How do we know which case to use for baðherbergið in this structure?
In a láta causative sentence, the object takes whatever case the infinitive verb requires. Since flísaleggja (to tile) governs the accusative case, baðherbergið is in the accusative.
What is the breakdown of the verb flísaleggja?
It is a compound verb made from the noun flís (tile) and the verb leggja (to lay, place). Combining a noun and a verb like this is very common in Icelandic to create specific action verbs.
Why is the present tense verb lætur used for an action happening á morgun (tomorrow)?
Icelandic does not have a dedicated future tense form of the verb. For fixed plans, you simply use the present tense combined with a future time phrase like á morgun to show when the action will happen.
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