Breakdown of Þeir eru búnir að pakka skónum áður en þeir fara.
vera
to be
þeir
they (m)
fara
to go
að
to (infinitive marker)
skórinn
the shoe
áður en
before
búinn
finished
pakka
to pack
Questions & Answers about Þeir eru búnir að pakka skónum áður en þeir fara.
Why is the word for "done" written as búnir instead of the dictionary form búinn?
In the vera búinn að (to be done or have finished) construction, the word búinn acts like an adjective and must agree with the subject in gender and number. Because the subject Þeir (they) is masculine and plural, búinn changes to the masculine plural form búnir.
Why is the word for "the shoes" (skónum) in the dative case?
The verb pakka (to pack) dictates the case of the object being packed. It requires its object to take the dative case, which is why we don't use the standard accusative object form here.
How is the form skónum built from the base word?
The singular dictionary form is skór (shoe). The basic dative plural form is skóm. When you add the plural definite article ("the") to a dative plural noun, the ending becomes -num, which transforms skóm into skónum.
Why do we use áður en instead of just áður for "before"?
When you want to say "before" a specific action happens (connecting it to a new subject and verb, like "they leave"), you must use the full phrase áður en. If you use áður all by itself, it means "previously" or "beforehand".
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