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Questions & Answers about Skilið símanum strax!
Why does the verb skilið end in -ið?
This is the plural command form (imperative) of the verb skila (to return or hand in). You use the -ið suffix when you are giving an order to two or more people. If you were telling just one person to hand in their phone, you would use the singular command form skilaðu.
Why is the word for "the phone" símanum here instead of the usual síminn?
In Icelandic, certain verbs demand that the noun following them be in a specific case. The verb skila always takes an object in the dative case. Because of this, síminn (the phone, in the basic nominative form) changes to símanum (the phone, in the dative form).
What parts make up the word símanum?
It is built from the masculine noun sími (phone). In the dative case, sími becomes síma. To say "the phone", we add the dative definite article (the "the" ending) which is -num for this word, giving us símanum.
Does strax change its ending depending on who I am talking to?
No, strax (right away / immediately) is an adverb, so it never changes form. You can use it exactly like this regardless of who you are talking to, whether it is a singular command, a plural command, or just a normal statement.