Questions & Answers about Tilraunin mistókst í dag.
How does the prefix mis- function in the word mistókst?
The prefix mis- often indicates that something was done wrongly, badly, or resulted in the opposite outcome. Here, it attaches to the verb takast (to succeed), flipping its meaning entirely to create mistakast (to fail). Mistókst is simply the past tense form.
I thought mistakast takes a dative subject, but tilraunin is nominative. Why?
You are right that mistakast normally requires a dative subject when referring to the person who fails (for example, mér mistókst means 'I failed'). However, when the subject is the thing or event that fails—like tilraunin (the experiment) in this sentence—it takes the regular nominative case.
Why does the verb end in -st? Is the experiment failing itself?
No, the -st ending here marks the middle voice, which often gives an Icelandic verb a completely new vocabulary meaning rather than a reflexive one. While the active verb taka means 'to take', the middle voice takast means 'to succeed'. The prefix mis- is added directly to this middle voice form to mean 'to fail'.
Does the prefix mis- also attach to the active verb taka?
Yes, but it creates a different word. The active form mistaka means 'to mistake' or 'to take the wrong thing' (like accidentally grabbing the wrong coat). To say something 'failed', you must use the middle voice form mistakast as seen in this sentence.
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