Breakdown of Eru þeir búnir með sandpappírinn?
þeir
they (m)
vera búinn með
to be finished with / to have run out of
sandpappírinn
the sandpaper (m)
Questions & Answers about Eru þeir búnir með sandpappírinn?
Doesn't the preposition með usually take the dative case when talking about tools like sandpaper? Why is sandpappírinn in the accusative here?
You are spot on that með meaning 'using [a tool]' normally takes the dative. However, in the specific phrase vera búinn með (to be finished with a task or a consumable item), með always takes the accusative case. Because the focus is on finishing the item or the task associated with it, sandpappírinn must be accusative.
Why does the sentence use búnir instead of just the default búið?
How can I tell that sandpappírinn is actually in the accusative case just by looking at the ending?
Sandpappír is a masculine noun. In the singular accusative, it takes the definite article suffix -inn. If it had been in the dative case (which we now know is incorrect for this specific phrase), it would have been sandpappírnum.
If I wanted to ask if they were finished sanding (the action) instead of finished with the sandpaper (the noun), would I still use með?
No. When you are talking about finishing an action (a verb), you must use að plus the infinitive instead of með plus a noun. To ask 'Are they finished sanding?' you would say Eru þeir búnir að pússa?
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