Question 1

Why is it Mér skilst instead of just Ég skil?

Accepted Answer

Skilja usually means "to understand" (like ég skil - I understand). When we use the middle voice -st ending with a dative subject (mér), it becomes an impersonal phrase. Mér skilst að... translates roughly to "I am given to understand that..." or "I hear that...". It implies you picked up this information from an outside source rather than it being your own direct thought.

Question 2

Why does this sentence use the subjunctive sé instead of the indicative er?

Accepted Answer

Phrases that report information, like mér skilst að... (I hear/understand that), often trigger the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Using the subjunctive sé shows that this is indirect speech or hearsay, marking it as something you were told rather than a direct, objective fact you are stating yourself.

Question 3

Does the phrasal verb byggja upp work exactly like "build up" in English?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Just like in English, byggja upp can be used for physical construction as well as for abstract concepts. Here, you are "building up" a professional network, but you could also use it for building up a business or someone's confidence.

Question 4

How does the word tengslanet break down, and why is faglegt in that form?

Accepted Answer

It is a compound of tengsl (connections or ties) and net (net or network). Since the core noun net is a neuter word, the entire compound is neuter. This is why the adjective for "professional" (faglegur) must take the neuter suffix -t, becoming faglegt to match it.

Mér skilst að það sé mikilvægt að byggja upp faglegt tengslanet.

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