Breakdown of Við bíðum eftir póstinum en við kvíðum fyrir úrslitunum.
en
but
við
we
bíða
to wait
eftir
after / for (waiting for)
pósturinn
the mail
kvíða fyrir
to be anxious about
úrslitin
the results
Questions & Answers about Við bíðum eftir póstinum en við kvíðum fyrir úrslitunum.
Why are both póstinum and úrslitunum in the dative case?
They are in the dative case because of the prepositional verbs used in this sentence: bíða eftir (to wait for) and kvíða fyrir (to be anxious about). In Icelandic, these specific verb-and-preposition pairs lock the following noun into a set case. Both eftir and fyrir require the dative case when used in these specific expressions.
How can I tell that póstinum and úrslitunum have the word "the" attached to them?
The suffixes at the end of the words indicate the definite article ("the"). For the masculine noun póstur (mail), the dative form is pósti, and adding the "the" ending makes it póstinum. For the neuter plural noun úrslit (results), the dative form is úrslitum, and adding the "the" ending makes it úrslitunum. Seeing -num at the end of a word is a strong hint that you are looking at a dative definite noun!
Does fyrir always mean "about" like it does in kvíða fyrir?
Not at all! On its own, fyrir usually means "for", "before", or "in front of". However, when it's part of a set prepositional verb like kvíða fyrir, the two words work together as a single concept ("to be anxious about" or "to dread"). You have to learn the preposition as a package deal with the verb, rather than translating it literally.
Is it a coincidence that both verbs end in -um (bíðum, kvíðum)?
No, it is a very consistent rule! The -um ending is the standard present tense ending for við (we). Whenever you see við as the subject, the verb will almost always end in -um, regardless of whether it's a regular or irregular verb.
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