Breakdown of Ég ræð mínum eigin vinnutíma.
ég
I
minn
my
ráða
to decide, to be in charge
eigin
own (one's own)
Questions & Answers about Ég ræð mínum eigin vinnutíma.
Why doesn't the word eigin change to match the dative case like mínum does?
As you are learning in this lesson, eigin is an invariable adjective. This means it never changes its spelling, no matter the gender, number, or case of the noun it describes. Even though the rest of the phrase takes the dative case, eigin stays exactly the same.
Why is the phrase mínum eigin vinnutíma in the dative case instead of the accusative?
The verb ráða requires its object to be in the dative case when it means to control, to rule, or to decide. Because of this, the nominative phrase minn eigin vinnutími changes to the dative mínum eigin vinnutíma.
Usually, possessive pronouns can go after the noun in Icelandic. Can I say eigin vinnutíma mínum instead?
No. While it is true that possessive pronouns often follow the noun in normal sentences, the word order becomes completely fixed when you add eigin. The possessive pronoun must always come first, followed by eigin, and then the noun.
The English translation says 'working hours' in the plural. Is vinnutíma plural here?