Questions & Answers about Hann skilar fjórum hlutum.
Why is the object of the sentence in the dative case?
The verb skila (to return or give back) is a verb that forces its object to be in the dative case. This is why the rest of the phrase changes to match it.
Why is the word for "four" written as fjórum here?
In Icelandic, the numbers 1 to 4 change their endings to match the gender and case of the noun they describe. Because hlutur (thing) is a masculine noun and the verb forces the dative case, we use the dative masculine form of four, which is fjórum.
What is the dictionary form of hlutum?
It comes from the masculine noun hlutur (thing or object). The -um ending is the standard marker for the dative plural in Icelandic.
Can I use skila to say "He returns home"?
No, skila specifically means to return or hand back an object. If a person is returning to a location, you would use a different phrase like fara aftur or koma aftur.