Breakdown of Gætirðu lýst konu slíkrar herkænsku?
konan
the woman
gætirðu
could you
slíkur
such
lýsa
to describe (+ Dative)
herkænskan
the strategy
Questions & Answers about Gætirðu lýst konu slíkrar herkænsku?
Why is slíkrar herkænsku in the genitive case?
This is the genitive of description (eiginleikaeignarfall). In Icelandic, a genitive phrase is often used to describe a characteristic, quality, or property of a noun. It works much like the English construction "of such strategy" or "of such cunning" to describe the preceding noun, konu.
Why is konu in the dative case? Is it affected by the genitive phrase that follows it?
No, the case of konu is completely separate from the genitive of description. It is in the dative case simply because it is the object of the verb lýsa (to describe), which always governs the dative.
Why does the sentence use lýst instead of the infinitive lýsa after gætirðu?
The verb geta (here in the past subjunctive as gætir, attached to þú as -ðu) is unique in Icelandic because it requires the main verb to be in the supine form (sagnbót), not the infinitive. English speakers often default to the infinitive because "could describe" uses the bare infinitive in English, but in Icelandic you must use the supine lýst, exactly as you would after the verb hafa.
How is the compound noun herkænsku formed?
The nominative form is herkænska. It is composed of her (army, military) and kænska (cleverness, cunning, or skill). While it literally translates to military strategy or tactics, it is often used to refer to strategic cunning in a broader sense.
Learn Gætirðu lýst konu slíkrar herkænsku and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free