Word
Hann krefst þess að vinnubrögðin séu allra best.
Meaning
He demands that the working methods be the best of all.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Hann krefst þess að vinnubrögðin séu allra best.
vera
to be
hann
he
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
góður
good
Questions & Answers about Hann krefst þess að vinnubrögðin séu allra best.
Why do we use the subjunctive séu here instead of the indicative eru?
This is the subjunctive of volition. The main verb, krefjast (to demand), expresses a strong command. When a verb of volition introduces an að-clause with a new subject (here, vinnubrögðin), the verb in that clause must take the subjunctive. Since the main verb is in the present tense, we use the present subjunctive séu.
Why is the word þess inserted before the að-clause?
The verb krefjast requires its object to be in the genitive case. Because an entire að-clause cannot take a grammatical case, Icelandic bridges the gap by inserting the dummy pronoun það in the genitive (þess). You can think of it literally as 'He demands of that, that the working methods...'
How does the phrase allra best work grammatically?
Allra is the genitive plural of allur (all). When placed directly before a superlative adjective like best, it acts as an intensifier meaning 'the very best' or literally 'best of all.'
Why is the plural adjective best used when vinnubrögðin ends in -in? Isn't -in usually a feminine singular ending?