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Maðurinn ætlar að snúa skífunni réttsælis.

Maðurinn ætlar að snúa skífunni réttsælis.
The man is going to turn the dial clockwise.
From Lesson 381:Resultative clauses (þannig að)·Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Maðurinn ætlar að snúa skífunni réttsælis.

Why is skífunni in the dative case here?
The verb snúa (to turn) controls the dative case for the object that is being turned. Here, skífunni is the dative singular form of skífa (dial/disc) with the definite article attached.
How is the adverb réttsælis (clockwise) formed?
It literally translates to "right-sun-wise" or following the path of the sun. It combines rétt (right) and sól (sun), where the vowel shifts from ó to æ because of the adverbial genitive ending -is. For counter-clockwise, you would use rangsælis.
Are there other common meanings for the word skífa?
Yes. While it translates to "dial" in this context, skífa broadly refers to flat, round objects. It is often used for a disc (like a CD), a slice (like a slice of cheese or sausage), or even a pizza.
How could I add to this sentence to say "...so that it opens" using a resultative conjunction?
You can use the conjunction þannig að (so / with the result that) followed by the indicative mood: Maðurinn ætlar að snúa skífunni réttsælis, þannig að hún opnast. Since the action directly results in the dial opening, the standard indicative mood is used rather than the subjunctive.

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