Word
Góð heilsa gefur mér mikla orku.
Meaning
Good health gives me a lot of energy.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Góð heilsa gefur mér mikla orku.
góður
good
mér
me (dative)
gefa
to give
mikill
great, much (adjective)
Questions & Answers about Góð heilsa gefur mér mikla orku.
Why do we use mér instead of mig or ég?
The verb gefa (to give) takes two objects. The person receiving the gift (the indirect object) takes the dative case, which is why we use mér. The thing being given takes the accusative case.
Why is the adjective mikla used here instead of mikill?
Adjectives must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. The word for energy, orka, is a feminine noun. Because it is the thing being given, it is in the accusative case. Mikla is the feminine, singular, accusative form of mikill (much/a lot).
Why does orka change to orku at the end of the sentence?
The dictionary form is orka. It changes to orku because it is the direct object of the verb gefa (to give), which forces it into the accusative case. In Icelandic, most feminine nouns that end in -a change to -u in the accusative case.
Why is it Góð heilsa rather than Góða heilsa?
Heilsa (health) is the subject of the sentence, so it is in the nominative case. We use the strong declension of the adjective, Góð, because there is no definite article on the noun. If we were saying 'The good health' with the definite article, it would use the weak form and become Góða heilsan.