Breakdown of Við eigum ekki að einkavæða heilbrigðiskerfið.
ekki
not
við
we
eiga að
to be supposed to
einkavæða
to privatize
heilbrigðiskerfið
the healthcare system
Questions & Answers about Við eigum ekki að einkavæða heilbrigðiskerfið.
How does the suffix -væða work in the word einkavæða?
The suffix -væða is highly productive in modern Icelandic, meaning "to -ize" or "to -ify". Here, it attaches to the prefix einka- (private) to form einkavæða (to privatize). As a weak verb, it takes a -di ending in the past tense, making the past form einkavæddi.
Why is eigum translated as "must" rather than "own" here?
While the verb eiga by itself means "to own", the grammatical construction eiga að plus an infinitive verb means "to be supposed to", "should", or "must". Therefore, við eigum ekki að translates to the strong recommendation or rule "we are not supposed to" or "we must not".
What case does the verb einkavæða dictate for heilbrigðiskerfið?
Like most transitive verbs that describe performing an action on a direct object, einkavæða governs the accusative case. Because kerfi (system) is a neuter noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative form, so the definite word remains heilbrigðiskerfið.
How is the compound noun heilbrigðiskerfið put together?
It is constructed from heilbrigði (health) and kerfi (system), complete with the attached neuter definite article -ð (the). The two base nouns are joined together by the genitive -s, acting as a link that literally translates the word to "the system of health".
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