Breakdown of Mætti ég borga í afgreiðslunni?
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
borga
to pay
mætti ég
may I
afgreiðslan
the counter
Questions & Answers about Mætti ég borga í afgreiðslunni?
Why do we say mætti ég instead of má ég here?
Mætti is a special polite form (the past subjunctive) of the verb mega (to be allowed to). While má ég simply means "may I," using mætti ég is like saying "might I" or "would I be allowed to." It makes the request softer and much more polite, which is perfect for talking to staff.
Why is there no að before the verb borga?
Because it follows a modal verb. Just like in English where we say "May I pay" instead of "May I to pay," Icelandic modal verbs like mega (which mætti comes from) pair with the plain infinitive of the main verb without needing the word að.
What is the base form of afgreiðslunni and why does it end in -unni?
The base dictionary word is afgreiðsla, a feminine noun meaning a counter, desk, or reception. The -unni ending is the attached definite article (meaning "the") for feminine singular nouns in the dative case.
Why are we using the dative case for afgreiðslunni?
The preposition í (meaning in or at) triggers the dative case when it describes a stationary location, answering the question "where?". If you were expressing movement toward the desk (answering "where to?"), í would take the accusative case instead.