Breakdown of Strákarnir eru kærulausir, þeir hefðu átt að vera viðbúnir óveðrinu.
vera
to be
strákurinn
the boy
þeir
they (m)
hafa
to have
eiga að
to be supposed to
óveðrið
the storm
kærulaus
careless
viðbúinn
prepared
Questions & Answers about Strákarnir eru kærulausir, þeir hefðu átt að vera viðbúnir óveðrinu.
How does the construction hefðu átt að vera break down to mean 'should have been'?
It uses hefðu, the past subjunctive form of hafa (to have) for 'they', combined with átt, which is the supine (past participle) of eiga. Because eiga að means 'to have to' or 'should', combining it with the subjunctive creates the unfulfilled past obligation 'should have'. Finally, we add the infinitive vera (to be).
Why is the storm translated as óveðrinu in the dative case?
The adjective viðbúinn (prepared) dictates the case of what you are prepared for, and it specifically requires the dative case. Therefore, the neuter noun óveður takes the dative definite ending.
Why do both kærulausir and viðbúnir end in -ir?
Both words are adjectives describing the boys (strákarnir and þeir). Because the subject is a masculine plural noun in the nominative case, the adjectives must agree. For most adjectives, the masculine plural nominative ending is -ir.
What happens to the spelling of óveður when it becomes óveðrinu?
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