Breakdown of Ef við förum á tjaldstæðið, þurfum við nestið.
við
we
fara
to go
á
onto / on / in (static location) / on (a day of the week)
þurfa
to need
ef
if
tjaldstæðið
the campsite
nestið
the packed lunch
Questions & Answers about Ef við förum á tjaldstæðið, þurfum við nestið.
Why does the second part of the sentence say þurfum við instead of við þurfum?
This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action! The entire if-clause (Ef við förum á tjaldstæðið) counts as the first piece of information in the sentence. Because the main verb must be in the second position, the main clause starts immediately with the verb þurfum, followed by the subject við.
Why is tjaldstæðið in the accusative case here instead of the dative?
The preposition á takes the accusative case when it describes movement or direction towards a place, like going to the campsite. If we were already at the campsite doing something, á would take the dative case to show location.
Both tjaldstæðið and nestið end in -ð. What does this ending tell us?
It is the attached definite article meaning "the". Both tjaldstæði (campsite) and nesti (provisions) are neuter nouns. For neuter nouns that already end in a vowel, the definite article is just -ð attached to the end.
What exactly does nesti mean in Icelandic?
While it translates well to "packed lunch" here, nesti is a broad word for any food or provisions you pack to take with you on a trip, hike, or to school. It can be a simple snack or a full picnic!
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