Breakdown of Kennarinn þarf að skoða kortin.
kennarinn
the teacher
að
to (infinitive marker)
skoða
to look at
þurfa
to need
kortið
the card
Questions & Answers about Kennarinn þarf að skoða kortin.
How is the word kortin ("the cards") formed in this sentence?
Why is kortin in the accusative case here?
It is the direct object of the verb skoða ("to examine"). In Icelandic, verbs dictate the case of the objects that follow them. Skoða is a very common verb that takes its object in the accusative case. (Note that for neuter words like kort, the accusative form looks identical to the nominative form).
Does kennarinn mean "the teacher"? Where is the word for "the"?
Yes! In Icelandic, "the" is usually attached to the end of the noun rather than standing alone. The base noun is kennari (a masculine noun for "teacher"). Because it is the subject doing the action, it is in the nominative case. We add the masculine definite ending -nn to get kennarinn.
Why do we need the word að before skoða?
Að is the infinitive marker, functioning exactly like the word "to" in the English phrase "to examine". When you connect a conjugated verb like þarf (needs) with an action in its dictionary form, you use að + the infinitive verb.
Why doesn't the verb þarf end in a typical present tense ending like -ir or -ar?
The verb þurfa ("to need") belongs to a special, older group of verbs that don't follow the regular present tense patterns. For "I", "he", "she", or "it" (like the teacher here), the form is simply þarf. It doesn't use the regular endings, so you just have to memorize it!
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