Breakdown of Getur þú sýnt töfrabragðið?
þú
you
sýna
to show
geta
to be able to
töfrabragðið
the magic trick
Questions & Answers about Getur þú sýnt töfrabragðið?
Why do we use sýnt here instead of the infinitive sýna?
The verb geta (can / to be able to) is unique in Icelandic! While other modal verbs use the infinitive, geta must always be followed by the supine form of the main verb. The supine is simply the neuter singular form of the past participle. So, the infinitive sýna (to show) becomes the supine sýnt.
Why is the verb Getur at the very beginning of the sentence?
Just like in English, Icelandic swaps the subject and the verb to turn a regular statement into a yes/no question. The statement Þú getur sýnt... (You can show...) flips to become Getur þú sýnt...? (Can you show...?).
How does the word töfrabragðið break down?
It is a compound noun made of töfra (magic) and bragð (trick). Because bragð is a neuter noun, we attach the neuter definite article -ið to the end of it to say 'the magic trick' (töfrabragðið).
What case is töfrabragðið in here, and why didn't the ending change?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object (the thing being shown). However, for all neuter nouns in Icelandic, the accusative form is always exactly the same as the nominative (dictionary) form. That is why the word looks like it hasn't changed at all!
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