Breakdown of Ég ætla að aðstoða þig við þetta.
þetta
this
ég
I
þú
you
að
to (infinitive marker)
ætla
to intend
við
with (talking with)
aðstoða
to assist
Questions & Answers about Ég ætla að aðstoða þig við þetta.
Why does this sentence use þig (accusative) instead of þér (dative)? Doesn't the verb for "to help" take the dative case?
You're likely thinking of the verb hjálpa (to help), which does indeed take the dative case (so you would say hjálpa þér). However, the slightly more formal verb aðstoða (to assist) takes the accusative case. That is why we must use the accusative form þig here.
This lesson is about polite requests. How would I change this sentence to politely offer my assistance?
Right now, Ég ætla að is a firm statement of intent ("I am going to"). To turn it into a polite offer using the subjunctive forms from this lesson, you can swap it out and say Mætti ég aðstoða þig við þetta? (May I assist you with this?).
Why do we use við for "with" here instead of með?
In Icelandic, við is typically used for "with" when talking about tasks, projects, or situations you are involved in. You use við when helping someone with a job. Með is mostly used for physical accompaniment (going somewhere with a person) or using an instrument (eating with a fork). Keep in mind that við takes the accusative case here, which is why we use þetta.
The word að and the verb aðstoða are right next to each other. Do you clearly pronounce "að" twice?
Not usually. When spoken at a normal, natural pace, the infinitive marker að blends right into the identical first syllable of aðstoða. Instead of two distinct "að" sounds with a pause in between, they merge into one slightly elongated syllable, sounding a bit like "ætla-ðaðstoða".
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