Question 1

Why does the word for table end in -um here?

Accepted Answer

The dictionary form is borð (table). Because the dog is located under the tables, the preposition undir (under) forces the noun into the dative case. The ending -um is the standard dative plural ending for almost all nouns in Icelandic, making borðum mean tables in the dative case.

Question 2

How would the sentence change if the dog slept under THE tables?

Accepted Answer

You would change the bare plural ending to the definite dative plural form, which is -unum. The word would become borðunum, and the phrase would be undir borðunum (under the tables).

Question 3

Does the word stundum (sometimes) also have a dative plural ending?

Accepted Answer

Yes, historically! The word stundum is an adverb meaning sometimes, but it originally comes from the dative plural of the noun stund (a while, a period of time). So literally, it meant at times. Today it is just used as a fixed adverb, but it's a great way to remember the -um ending.

Question 4

Why is the verb sefur when the dictionary form is sofa?

Accepted Answer

The verb sofa (to sleep) has a vowel change from o to e in its singular forms. This is a common pattern to watch out for. Because of this shift, we say ég sef (I sleep) and hann/hún/það sefur (he/she/it sleeps).

Question 5

Why does undir trigger the dative case instead of the accusative here?

Accepted Answer

Prepositions like undir (under) take the dative case when they describe a fixed location or a state of rest, like sleeping in one spot. If the dog were actively running from somewhere else to get under the table, undir would take the accusative case to show that motion toward a destination.

Hundurinn sefur stundum undir borðum.

Breakdown of Hundurinn sefur stundum undir borðum.

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