Breakdown of Ég fresta viðtalinu af því að ég er ekki heima.
vera
to be
ég
I
ekki
not
heima
at home
af því að
because
fresta
to postpone
viðtalið
the interview
Questions & Answers about Ég fresta viðtalinu af því að ég er ekki heima.
Why does ekki come after the verb er in this subordinate clause?
In Icelandic, subordinate clauses usually keep the same word order as main clauses. The subject (ég) comes first, the verb (er) stays in the second position, and the negative word (ekki) follows directly after it. You don't have to shift the negative word in front of the verb here.
Why is the word for interview written as viðtalinu instead of viðtalið?
The verb fresta (to postpone) requires its object to take the dative case. The base word is viðtal (a neuter noun). When you add the definite article to say "the interview" in the dative case, it becomes viðtalinu.
Is af því að the only way to say "because" in this sentence?
Af því að is the most common and natural way to say "because" in everyday Icelandic. You could also use vegna þess að, which means the exact same thing but sounds slightly more formal.
Why do we use heima here instead of heim?
Heima is the stationary form, meaning "at home." Because you are describing a state of being with the verb er (am), you use heima. You only use heim when there is active movement towards home, like saying ég fer heim (I am going home).
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