Learn Icelandic: Ætlar þú ekki að dansa? - Are you not going to dance?

The verb ætla literally means "to intend" or "to plan." In Icelandic, you pair it with the marker að (to) and a base-form verb (like dansa) to express what you are "going to" do in the future. It is the most common way to talk about future plans.

Could I drop the "að" and just say "Ætlar þú ekki dansa?"

No, you must include að. Just like in English where you say "going to dance" instead of "going dance," Icelandic requires the marker að to connect the helping verb (ætlar) with the main action verb (dansa).

Why does "ekki" go right in the middle of the sentence?

In an Icelandic yes/no question, you start with the Verb + Subject (Ætlar þú). If the sentence is negative, the word ekki (not) usually goes directly after that subject. It interrupts the phrase, sitting right between the subject and the að dansa part.

How do we know "ætlar" is the right form to use?

Ætlar is the specific present-tense form of ætla that matches þú (you, singular). Notice that it ends in an "-r". If the subject were "I", the "-r" drops off and it becomes Ég ætla.