Breakdown of Við fjöllum um hið siðferðislega á málstofunni.
við
we
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
um
about
fjalla
to discuss
málstofan
the seminar
hið
the (formal neuter)
siðferðislegur
ethical
Questions & Answers about Við fjöllum um hið siðferðislega á málstofunni.
Why do we use hið siðferðislega instead of a standard noun here?
This is a substantivized adjective. By taking the neuter form of the adjective siðferðislegur (ethical) and pairing it with the free-standing definite article hið, we create an abstract concept meaning "the ethical" or "that which is ethical".
Why does siðferðislega end in -a here?
It is using the weak declension. Whenever an adjective is preceded by a free-standing definite article like hið, it must take the weak form. For a neuter singular adjective in the accusative case, that ending is -a.
What case is hið siðferðislega in?
It is in the accusative case, governed by the preposition um. The verb phrase fjalla um (to discuss or deal with) always requires its object to be in the accusative. For neuter words like hið, the accusative form is identical to the nominative.
Why is málstofunni in the dative case rather than the accusative?
The preposition á takes the dative case when it describes a stationary location (where something is happening), such as being "at the seminar". It only takes the accusative when describing movement towards a destination.
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