Question 1

Why is someone translated as einhverjum instead of just einhver?

Accepted Answer

Einhverjum is the dative form of einhver. The verb veita (to grant) dictates that the recipient (the person receiving the grant) must be in the dative case. When referring to an unspecified person, Icelandic usually defaults to the masculine singular form, which becomes einhverjum in the dative.

Question 2

The English translation says the organization (singular), so why does the verb veita look like a plural form?

Accepted Answer

The Icelandic word for organization, samtök, is a neuter plural noun. This is similar to how the words scissors or pants are always plural in English. Because the subject is plural, it takes the definite plural ending -in to become samtökin, and the verb must match it with the plural form veita.

Question 3

What case is the word framlagið (the contribution) in here?

Accepted Answer

It is in the accusative case. The verb veita requires the thing being granted to be in the accusative case, while the receiver is in the dative. Because the base word framlag is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its dictionary form, and we just add the neuter definite suffix -ið.

Question 4

Why is framlagið at the very end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

When an Icelandic verb has two objects, the sentence structure usually mirrors English: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object (the receiver) + Direct Object (the thing given). The sentence literally flows as The organization grants someone the contribution.

Samtökin veita einhverjum framlagið.

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