Questions & Answers about Sérð þú síma þar?
Why does the sentence start with Sérð instead of Þú sérð?
Icelandic forms yes-or-no questions by putting the verb first, right before the subject. So, Þú sérð (You see) becomes Sérð þú (Do you see). Notice that Icelandic doesn't use a helper verb like 'do' to make questions!
Why is the word for telephone síma here instead of its dictionary form sími?
Because it is the direct object of the sentence—it is the thing being seen. The verb sjá (to see) forces its object into the accusative case. For masculine nouns that end in -i like sími, the ending changes to -a in the accusative case, becoming síma.
How do we know it means 'a telephone' and not 'the telephone'?
Icelandic doesn't have a separate word for 'a' or 'an'. When you use a bare noun without any special definite endings attached to it, like síma, it automatically translates to 'a telephone' or just 'telephone'.
What is the dictionary form of Sérð?
The dictionary form is sjá (to see). It is an irregular verb, which means its spelling changes in unpredictable ways. When matched with þú (you), it becomes sérð.