Breakdown of Lykilorðið virkar í fimm daga.
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
fimm
five
dagurinn
the day (m)
lykilorðið
the password
virka
to work (to function)
Questions & Answers about Lykilorðið virkar í fimm daga.
Why does the sentence use í if the English translation says 'for'?
When expressing how long an action or state lasts (time duration), Icelandic uses the preposition í followed by the accusative case. Even though í usually means 'in', in this time context it translates to 'for'.
Why is the word for days spelled daga here instead of dagar?
Because it comes after í used for time duration, which forces the following noun into the accusative case. The word dagur (day) is a masculine noun. Its plural nominative (subject) form is dagar, but its plural accusative form drops the 'r' to become daga.
Could I use the verb vinna instead of virka to say the password 'works'?
No, because vinna means 'to work' in the sense of having a job or performing labor. Virka means 'to work' in the sense of functioning properly, which is the verb you need for machines, software, and passwords.
How is the word lykilorðið (the password) built?
It is a compound word made of lykill (key) and orð (word). Because the last part of a compound word determines the gender, it is a neuter noun. The -ið at the end is the attached neuter definite article, making it 'the password'.
Does the number fimm (five) need a special ending to match the accusative case of daga?
No, in Icelandic, numbers from five onwards do not change their form to match gender or case. Only the numbers one through four decline to match the noun they describe!
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