Breakdown of Öryggiskerfið verður að geta fundið vírusinn.
að
to (infinitive marker)
finna
to find
verða
to become; will be
geta
to be able to
öryggiskerfið
the security system
vírusinn
the virus (loanword, also computer)
Questions & Answers about Öryggiskerfið verður að geta fundið vírusinn.
Why do we use the supine form fundið instead of the infinitive finna?
This sentence stacks two auxiliary verbs. The first one, verður að (must), correctly takes the infinitive form of the next verb, which is geta (to be able to). However, geta is special in Icelandic because it always forces the main verb that follows it into the supine form. Therefore, finna becomes fundið.
How do we know verður means 'must' here instead of 'will be'?
The verb verða on its own usually means 'to become' or indicates the future tense 'will be'. But when it is paired with the particle að plus an infinitive verb, creating the phrase verða að, the meaning changes completely to 'must' or 'have to'.
Does the auxiliary verb geta change the case of the direct object vírusinn?
No, it does not. The case of the object is still entirely decided by the main action verb, which is finna (to find). Because finna requires its direct object to be in the accusative case, vírusinn (the virus) is in the accusative, regardless of the helper verbs stacked in front of it.
What is the function of the -s- in the middle of öryggiskerfið?
It acts as a linking letter to stick two nouns together into a compound word. It joins öryggi (security) and kerfi (system). Historically, this is the genitive ending, effectively making it a 'system of security'. The final -ð is the attached neuter definite article meaning 'the'.
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