Question 1

Why do we use the reflexive pronoun sér in the phrase eiga sér stað?

Accepted Answer

The phrase eiga sér stað is a fixed idiom meaning "to take place." Literally, it translates to "to own for oneself a place." The verb eiga (to own or have) here takes two objects: a dative indirect object for who or what gets the thing (sér, referring back to the elections), and an accusative direct object for the thing being had (stað).

Question 2

Why does í haust mean "this autumn" instead of just "in autumn"?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, the preposition í followed by a season in the accusative case (like haust, sumar, or vetur) specifically refers to the current or closest season, translating to "this autumn." If you want to talk about autumns in general, you use the preposition á with the plural definite form: á haustin (in the autumns).

Question 3

In English we often say "the election" (singular) for a major voting event, but here we see the plural kosningarnar. Is it mandatory to use the plural?

Accepted Answer

While the singular kosning exists (meaning the act of voting or a specific choice), Icelandic almost always uses the plural kosningar to refer to a general election event, such as a parliamentary or presidential election, because it consists of many individual votes being cast.

Question 4

Isn't eiga usually followed by að when talking about future events or obligations? Why isn't there an að here?

Accepted Answer

You are thinking of eiga að (to be supposed to / to have to), which is followed by a verb in the infinitive. In this sentence, eiga is acting as a regular verb meaning "to have" as part of the idiom eiga sér stað. Because it is acting as a normal verb taking nouns as objects (sér and stað), rather than linking to another verb, no að is used.

Kosningarnar eiga sér stað í haust.

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