Breakdown of Við látum alltaf garðyrkjumanninn klippa tréð.
við
we
alltaf
always
tréð
the tree
láta
to let
klippa
to cut (with scissors)
garðyrkjumaðurinn
the gardener
Questions & Answers about Við látum alltaf garðyrkjumanninn klippa tréð.
The lesson is about the causative passive, like 'having something done'. Why does this sentence use an active causative structure?
This sentence specifies exactly who is performing the task. When you name the doer, you use the active causative: láta + accusative doer (garðyrkjumanninn) + active infinitive (klippa). If you wanted to use the causative passive taught in this lesson and omit the doer ('We always have the tree trimmed'), you would simply drop the gardener and say Við látum alltaf klippa tréð.
Why is garðyrkjumanninn in the accusative case?
The verb láta governs the accusative case for the person or thing being 'made' or 'had' to do the action. The base word garðyrkjumaður (gardener) becomes garðyrkjumann in the accusative, and adding the definite article makes it garðyrkjumanninn.
What case is tréð in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb klippa (to trim). The neuter noun tré (tree) is identical in both its nominative and accusative forms, and adding the neuter definite article gives us tréð.
Why does the adverb alltaf come right after the verb látum rather than at the end of the sentence?
In standard Icelandic main clauses, adverbs of frequency like alltaf (always), aldrei (never), and oft (often) are placed immediately after the conjugated verb. Placing it at the end of the sentence would sound quite unnatural to a native speaker.
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