Breakdown of Hann útvegaði okkur ódýra íbúð.
hann
he
við
we
ódýr
cheap
íbúðin
the apartment
útvega
to procure, to get hold of (for someone)
Questions & Answers about Hann útvegaði okkur ódýra íbúð.
Why are we using the dative for us (okkur) and the accusative for the apartment (ódýra íbúð)?
The verb útvega means to procure or provide. Like many Icelandic verbs of giving, it assigns the dative case to the recipient (the indirect object, okkur) and the accusative case to the item being provided (the direct object, ódýra íbúð).
Why use útvegaði instead of a more common verb for "got", like fékk?
The verb fá (past tense fékk) usually means to receive or get for oneself. Útvega specifically means to procure, supply, or arrange something for someone else. Using it here implies that he actively used his effort, time, or connections to secure the apartment for you.
Why is the adjective ódýra used instead of the dictionary form ódýr?
The adjective must agree with íbúð, which is a feminine noun in the accusative case here. Even though the noun íbúð happens to look identical in the nominative, accusative, and dative singular, the adjective still takes the strong feminine accusative ending, making it ódýra.
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