Breakdown of Nemandinn gerir grein fyrir niðurstöðunum.
nemandinn
the student
niðurstaðan
the result
gera grein fyrir
to account for, to explain
Questions & Answers about Nemandinn gerir grein fyrir niðurstöðunum.
Is gera grein fyrir a fixed phrase, or can I translate "account for" word-by-word?
It is a highly common fixed idiom, especially in formal, professional, or academic contexts. It literally translates to "make an account for," but it is the standard Icelandic way to say "to explain," "to present," or "to give an account of" something.
Why is the noun grein in the accusative case here?
In this phrase, grein acts as the direct object of the verb gera (to make/do), which forces it into the accusative case. Because grein is a strong feminine noun, its accusative form happens to look identical to its nominative form.
The preposition fyrir can take either the accusative or dative case. Why does it take the dative for niðurstöðunum here?
While fyrir often takes the accusative when talking about movement, intention, or time, it takes the dative in many abstract or fixed expressions. In the idiom gera grein fyrir, it strictly requires the dative case for the thing being explained.
What is the base form of niðurstöðunum, and how do we build this exact ending?
The base word is niðurstaða, a feminine noun meaning "result" or "conclusion." To get this form, we first put it in the dative plural, which is niðurstöðum. Finally, we attach the dative plural definite article suffix, -num, creating niðurstöðunum.
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