Breakdown of Ég ætla að velja þennan kjól.
ég
I
að
to (infinitive marker)
ætla
to intend
þessi
this (m/f)
velja
to choose
kjóllinn
the dress
Questions & Answers about Ég ætla að velja þennan kjól.
Why do we use þennan here instead of þessi?
Þennan is the masculine accusative form of the word for 'this'. We need the masculine form because kjóll (dress) is a masculine noun. We use the accusative case because the dress is the direct object being chosen by the verb velja (to choose).
Why is the word for dress spelled kjól instead of kjóll in this sentence?
Because it is in the accusative case. For many masculine nouns that end in -ll in their dictionary form (like kjóll or bíll), you simply drop the final l to make the accusative form.
What does the word að do in this sentence?
The word að links the conjugated verb ætla (intend or plan) to the dictionary form of the verb velja (to choose). Together, ætla að plus an action is the most common way to say you are 'going to' do something in Icelandic.
Does the verb velja always make the following words take the accusative case?
Yes! When you choose something, that thing is the direct object of your action. In Icelandic, the direct object most commonly takes the accusative case, which is why both 'this' (þennan) and 'dress' (kjól) are in the accusative here.
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