Breakdown of Ég kvikmynda það ekki til þess að áhorfandinn sjái ekki villuna.
ég
I
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
ekki
not
sjá
to see
villan
the mistake / the error
áhorfandinn
the spectator
kvikmynda
to film
til þess að
so that (in order to)
Questions & Answers about Ég kvikmynda það ekki til þess að áhorfandinn sjái ekki villuna.
Why do we use the subjunctive form sjái instead of the indicative sér here?
This sentence uses a purpose clause introduced by til þess að ("so that"). When a purpose clause has a different subject from the main clause—here, the main subject is ég (I) but the new subject is áhorfandinn (the spectator)—you must use a full subordinate clause with the verb in the subjunctive mood.
How would the grammar change if the subject stayed the same (e.g., "I don't film it so that I don't see the error")?
If the subject doesn't change, you use a simple infinitive phrase rather than a subjunctive clause. The sentence would just be Ég kvikmynda það ekki til þess að sjá ekki villuna (using the infinitive að sjá). You only need the subjunctive clause structure taught in this lesson when introducing a new subject like áhorfandinn.
Why does ekki come after það in the first half of the sentence?
In Icelandic main clauses, negation like ekki generally comes directly after the verb. However, when the direct object is a simple pronoun like það, that pronoun jumps ahead of the negation. That is why we say kvikmynda það ekki rather than kvikmynda ekki það.
What case is villuna in, and why?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb sjá (to see). Villuna is the definite accusative form of the weak feminine noun villa (an error or mistake).
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