Question 1

Why use the reflexive pronoun sín here instead of hans (him)?

Accepted Answer

This is a long-distance reflexive. Normally, reflexives only refer to the subject of their own clause. However, in indirect speech (like after segir að), a reflexive pronoun in the subordinate clause points back to the subject of the main clause (Sjúklingurinn). If we used hans, it would mean the friend misses a third, entirely different person.

Question 2

Why is the reflexive pronoun in the genitive case (sín) rather than accusative (sig) or dative (sér)?

Accepted Answer

The case of the reflexive pronoun is determined by the verb in its own clause. The verb sakna (to miss) always requires its object to be in the genitive case. Since the friend is missing the patient, the reflexive pronoun takes the genitive form sín.

Question 3

Why is the verb spelled sakni instead of the regular present tense saknar?

Accepted Answer

sakni is the subjunctive mood form of sakna. Subordinate clauses that report someone's speech or thoughts (indirect speech) frequently use the subjunctive in Icelandic. Furthermore, using a long-distance reflexive across a clause boundary generally requires the verb in that subordinate clause to be in the subjunctive mood.

Question 4

What tells us for sure that the friend is the one doing the missing, and not the other way around?

Accepted Answer

We can tell by the grammatical cases. In the subordinate clause, vinurinn (the friend) is in the nominative case, which means it is the subject performing the action. The pronoun sín is the genitive object receiving the action.

Sjúklingurinn segir að vinurinn sakni sín.

Breakdown of Sjúklingurinn segir að vinurinn sakni sín.

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