Breakdown of Strákurinn má ekki styðjast við stallinn.
strákurinn
the boy
ekki
not
mega
to be allowed to
stallurinn
the pedestal
Questions & Answers about Strákurinn má ekki styðjast við stallinn.
Why does this sentence use má ekki instead of the lesson's focus, ekki vera að?
Má ekki means 'must not' and expresses a general rule or strict prohibition, like a museum rule telling you never to lean on the pedestal. Ekki vera að styðjast við stallinn would mean 'don't be leaning on the pedestal,' which you would use to tell someone to stop an action they are currently doing.
The verb styðjast ends in -st. What does it mean here?
It is the middle voice of the verb styðja (to support). Adding the -st suffix gives it a reflexive meaning, so styðjast translates to 'to support oneself' or 'to lean'.
Why is stallinn in the accusative case?
The preposition við takes the accusative case when it indicates physical contact, such as leaning 'against' or 'on' something. Stallinn is the accusative form of the masculine noun stallur (pedestal) with the definite article attached.
Could we move ekki and say Strákurinn má styðjast ekki?
No. In Icelandic main clauses, the negative adverb ekki must be placed immediately after the conjugated verb (má) and before the infinitive verb (styðjast).