Breakdown of Fylgið kennaranum og haldið áfram!
og
and
kennarinn
the teacher
halda áfram
to continue, keep going (halda áfram)
áfram
forward
Questions & Answers about Fylgið kennaranum og haldið áfram!
How do we know Fylgið and haldið are plural commands?
Both words end in -ið, which is the typical ending for giving a command to more than one person in Icelandic. If you were speaking to just one person, you would use the singular forms fylg and halt.
Why does the word for teacher end in -num here (kennaranum)?
The verb fylgja (to follow) is a verb that always forces its object into the dative case. The base word is kennari (a teacher). When you make it dative and add the definite article meaning 'the', it becomes kennaranum.
Does haldið áfram literally translate to 'keep going'?
Literally it means 'hold onwards'. The verb halda means to hold, and áfram means onwards or straight ahead. Together they make a very common phrase that just means to continue or keep going.
Could I use the plural form Fylgið to sound polite when talking to just one person?
No, Icelandic doesn't use plural forms for politeness the way languages like French or German do. You only use the -ið ending when you are literally commanding two or more people. If you are talking to one person, always use the singular command.