Breakdown of Það er skrýtið að þernan þvoi ekki lakið.
vera
to be
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
ekki
not
þvo
to wash
að
that (conjunction)
skrýtinn
strange
þernan
the maid
lakið
the sheet
Questions & Answers about Það er skrýtið að þernan þvoi ekki lakið.
Why do we use the subjunctive þvoi instead of the regular present tense þvær?
This is a classic example of the "evaluative subjunctive." The main clause, Það er skrýtið (It is strange), expresses a subjective value judgment or emotional reaction. In Icelandic, when you follow an opinion, judgment, or evaluation like this with an að (that) clause, the verb in the subordinate clause must take the subjunctive mood.
How is the present subjunctive þvoi formed from the verb þvo?
The verb þvo (to wash) is irregular and has a vowel shift in the present indicative (e.g., hún þvær). However, its present subjunctive is actually easier to build: it uses the infinitive stem þvo- plus standard subjunctive endings. This gives us (að) ég/hann/hún þvoi, þú þvoir, and við þvoum.
Why is the adjective skrýtið in the neuter singular form?
The main clause uses the dummy pronoun það (it) as a placeholder subject because the "true" subject of the sentence is the entire að clause that follows. Since adjectives must agree with their grammatical subject, skrýtinn (strange) takes the neuter singular form skrýtið to match það.
What case is lakið in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case. The verb þvo requires its direct object (the thing being washed) to be in the accusative. Because lak (sheet) is a neuter noun, its nominative and accusative forms are identical, resulting in lakið when the definite article -ið is attached.
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