Questions & Answers about Ég þarf að laga hjólið.
Why is að used between þarf and laga?
When you use þurfa (to need) with another action, you connect them with að plus the infinitive (dictionary form) of the second verb. It works exactly like the word "to" in the English phrase "need to fix".
The dictionary form of "need" is þurfa. Why is it þarf here?
Þurfa is an irregular verb. When paired with ég (I), the vowel changes, making it ég þarf (I need). You will also see this exact same form used with he, she, and it (hann / hún / það þarf).
Where is the word for "the" in hjólið?
Icelandic usually doesn't use a separate word for "the". Instead, it tacks a suffix onto the end of the noun. Hjól means "bike", and adding the suffix -ið makes it hjólið ("the bike").
Does the verb laga (to fix) change the grammar case of hjólið here?
Yes! Because the bike is the direct object receiving the action of being fixed, it is in the accusative case. However, because hjól is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its basic dictionary (nominative) form. That means the spelling doesn't change here!