Learn Icelandic: Vangetan til að hjálpa honum er sorgleg.

The noun getan is the definite form of geta, meaning ability. The prefix van- indicates a lack, deficiency, or under-performance, similar to the English prefixes in-, un-, or dys-. Therefore, vangeta translates to a lack of ability, or inability.

Why is til að used here instead of just að hjálpa?

When an infinitive phrase relates directly to a noun to explain its target or what it applies to, like describing what the vangetan is for, Icelandic typically uses til að rather than just að.

What determines the case of honum in this sentence?

The verb hjálpa always requires its object to be in the dative case. Because of this rule, the pronoun hann becomes its dative form honum.

Why does the adjective take the form sorgleg instead of sorglegt or sorglegur?

The adjective sorgleg must agree in gender, number, and case with the subject it describes, which is Vangetan. Because vangeta is a feminine noun in the singular nominative case, the adjective takes the feminine singular nominative form, which is the base word sorgleg.