Breakdown of Við færum kastarann til þess að bakgrunnurinn sé dökkur.
vera
to be
við
we
færa
to move (shift, move an object)
dökkur
dark (in colour)
til þess að
so that (in order to)
kastarinn
the spotlight (device)
bakgrunnurinn
the background
Questions & Answers about Við færum kastarann til þess að bakgrunnurinn sé dökkur.
Why is til þess að followed by a full clause here instead of an infinitive verb?
When the subject of the action remains the same, til þess að (in order to) takes an infinitive verb. However, in this sentence, the subject changes: we (við) are moving the spotlight, but the background (bakgrunnurinn) is becoming dark. When introducing a new subject, til þess að translates to "so that" and must be followed by a full subordinate clause.
Why is the verb sé used instead of er?
Sé is the present subjunctive form of vera (to be). Purpose clauses that begin with til þess að and introduce a new subject always trigger the subjunctive mood. This is because the clause describes an intended outcome or goal (so that it might be dark) rather than stating a concrete, existing fact.
Is færum just another form of fara (to go)?
They are closely related, but they are different verbs. Fara (we go = förum) is intransitive, meaning you move yourself. Færa (we move = færum) is transitive, meaning you are moving an object. Since we are moving an object here, we use færa, which puts the object (kastarann) into the accusative case.
How does the word kastari mean "spotlight"?
The noun kastari comes from the verb kasta (to throw). Literally, a kastari is a "thrower." In Icelandic, this word is commonly used for devices that "throw" light or images, such as a spotlight, projector, or floodlight. Here it has the definite accusative ending, making it kastarann (the spotlight).
Why is dökkur in the nominative case when the object in the first half of the sentence is accusative?
The word dökkur (dark) describes bakgrunnurinn (the background), not the spotlight. Because the word að starts a brand new clause, it resets the case structure. Bakgrunnurinn is the subject of this new clause, so it is in the nominative case. Therefore, the adjective dökkur must also be in the nominative masculine singular to agree with it.
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