Language/Icelandic/Grammar/Common-Prepositions
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
In the Icelandic language, prepositions play a crucial role in sentence structure and convey important relationships between words. Understanding and correctly using prepositions is essential for effective communication in Icelandic. In this lesson, we will explore the most common prepositions in Icelandic, their meanings, usage, and how they affect the case of the nouns they govern. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in Icelandic prepositions and be able to construct sentences with greater accuracy and fluency.
Common Prepositions[edit | edit source]
In Icelandic, there are several prepositions that are frequently used in everyday speech and writing. These prepositions govern different cases and express various relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other elements in a sentence. Let's take a closer look at some of the most common prepositions in Icelandic:
Á (On/At)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "á" is used to indicate location or position on or at something. It governs the accusative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég er á húsinu. | [jɛːɣ ɛr au hʏːsɪnʏ] | I am on the house. |
| Bókin er á borðinu. | [ˈpoːkɪn ɛr au ˈpɔrðɪnʏ] | The book is on the table. |
| Ég bý á Íslandi. | [jɛːɣ piːˈau ˈiːslantɪ] | I live in Iceland. |
Undir (Under)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "undir" is used to indicate location or position under something. It governs the accusative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kettirnir eru undir borðinu. | [ˈcʰɛhtɪrnɪr ɛr ˈʏntɪr ˈpɔrðɪnʏ] | The cats are under the table. |
| Bókin er undir húsinu. | [ˈpoːkɪn ɛr ˈʏntɪr ˈhʏːsɪnʏ] | The book is under the house. |
| Ég geymi peninga undir sænginni. | [jɛːɣ ˈceɪmɪ ˈpɛːnɪŋa ˈʏntɪr ˈsaiːɲɪnɪ] | I keep money under the bed. |
Fyrir (For)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "fyrir" is used to indicate purpose, duration, or in exchange for something. It governs the dative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég keypti blómin fyrir þig. | [jɛːɣ ˈceɪptɪ ˈploumɪn ˈfɪːrɪr θɪɣ] | I bought the flowers for you. |
| Ég fór í bókasafnið fyrir að læra. | [jɛːɣ ˈfouːr iː ˈpoːkaˌsapnɪð ˈfɪːrɪr aː lʰaiːra] | I went to the library to study. |
| Ég var þarna í tvo klukkutíma fyrir fundinn. | [jɛːɣ vaːr ˈθar̥na iː tvo ˈklʏʰːʏtʰuːma ˈfɪːrɪr ˈfʏntɪn] | I was there for two hours for the meeting. |
Með (With)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "með" is used to indicate accompaniment or means. It governs the dative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég fór til bókasafnsins með vinum mínum. | [jɛːɣ ˈfouːr tɪl ˈpoːkaˌsapnsɪns mɛːð ˈvɪːnʏm ˈmiːnʏm] | I went to the library with my friends. |
| Ég borðaði kökuna með gafflinum. | [jɛːɣ ˈpɔrðaːðɪ ˈcʰœʰkʏna mɛːð ˈkaːplɪnʏm] | I ate the cake with the fork. |
| Ég svaraði símtölunni með glæsibragði. | [jɛːɣ ˈsavar̥aðɪ ˈsiːmtœːlʏnɪ mɛːð ˈklaiːsɪˌpraxðɪ] | I answered the phone call with a smile. |
Án (Without)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "án" is used to indicate absence or lack of something. It governs the genitive case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég fór í búðina án peninga. | [jɛːɣ ˈfouːr iː ˈpuːðɪna ˈauːn ˈpɛːnɪŋa] | I went to the store without money. |
| Ég borðaði matinn án salts. | [jɛːɣ ˈpɔrðaːðɪ ˈmatɪn ˈauːn sals̥t] | I ate the food without salt. |
| Ég get ekki lifað án þín. | [jɛːɣ kɛt ˈɛcɪ lɪˈfaːð ˈauːn θiːn] | I cannot live without you. |
Til (To)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "til" is used to indicate direction or purpose. It governs the accusative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég fór til Reykjavíkur. | [jɛːɣ ˈfouːr tɪl ˈreːicavˌiːkʏr] | I went to Reykjavik. |
| Ég skrifaði bréfið til míns föður. | [jɛːɣ ˈskr̥ɪvaːðɪ ˈpraiːvɪð tɪl ˈmiːns ˈfœːðʏr̥] | I wrote the letter to my father. |
| Ég keypti blómin til að gefa þeim. | [jɛːɣ ˈceɪptɪ ˈploumɪn tɪl aː ˈcɛːva ˈθeiːm] | I bought the flowers to give to them. |
Eftir (After)[edit | edit source]
The preposition "eftir" is used to indicate time or order. It governs the dative case.
Examples:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ég kem eftir þér. | [jɛːɣ kɛm ˈɛcɪr̥ ˈθjɛːr̥] | I'll come after you. |
| Þú átt að fara heim eftir skólann. | [θuː ˈauʰt ˈaː fava ˈhɛɪm ˈɛcɪr̥ ˈskouːlan] | You should go home after school. |
| Ég hlakka til að sjá þig eftir vinnuna. | [jɛːɣ ˈl̥aʰka tɪl aː ˈsjaː θɪɣ ˈɛcɪr̥ ˈvɪnːʏna] | I look forward to seeing you after work. |
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Icelandic prepositions reflect the unique geography and culture of Iceland. The language is heavily influenced by the country's natural surroundings, with prepositions often used to describe locations, directions, and relationships with the land and sea. For example, the preposition "á" (on/at) is frequently used in Icelandic to describe the position of something on top of a natural feature, such as a mountain or a glacier. Similarly, the preposition "undir" (under) is commonly used to describe the position of something beneath a natural feature, like a waterfall or a cave. This close connection between the language and the landscape demonstrates how Icelandic culture and environment shape the linguistic expression of prepositions.
Historically, Icelandic has also been influenced by Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. Many prepositions in Icelandic have their roots in Old Norse, and their usage has evolved over time. Studying Icelandic prepositions can provide insights into the rich history and cultural heritage of Iceland, as well as its linguistic ties to the Viking era.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to put your knowledge of Icelandic prepositions to the test! Try the following exercises to practice using the common prepositions covered in this lesson. Solutions and explanations will be provided afterward, so don't worry if you get stuck.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate preposition.
1. Ég fór ____ bókasafnið að læra. 2. Kattarnir eru ____ borðinu. 3. Ég keypti blómin ____ þig. 4. Ég borðaði kökuna ____ gafflinum. 5. Ég átti að fara heim ____ skólann. 6. Ég hlakka ____ að sjá þig eftir vinnuna.
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences from English to Icelandic.
1. The book is on the table. 2. I went to the store without money. 3. I bought the flowers for you. 4. I ate the cake with the fork. 5. I'll come after you. 6. I look forward to seeing you after work.
Exercise Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1:
1. Ég fór til bókasafnsins að læra. 2. Kattarnir eru undir borðinu. 3. Ég keypti blómin fyrir þig. 4. Ég borðaði kökuna með gafflinum. 5. Ég átti að fara heim eftir skólann. 6. Ég hlakka til að sjá þig eftir vinnuna.
Exercise 2:
1. Bókin er á borðinu. 2. Ég fór í búðina án peninga. 3. Ég keypti blómin fyrir þig. 4. Ég borðaði kökuna með gafflinum. 5. Ég kem eftir þér. 6. Ég hlakka til að sjá þig eftir vinnuna.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on common prepositions in Icelandic. By mastering these prepositions, you have gained an important tool for constructing accurate and meaningful sentences in Icelandic. Remember to practice using prepositions in everyday conversations and written exercises to solidify your understanding. In the next lesson, we will explore prepositional phrases and how they enhance the complexity of sentence structure in Icelandic.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Verbs
- Regular Verbs
- Irregular Verbs
- 0 to A1 Course
- How to Use Have
- Negation
- Nouns
- Prepositions
- Adverbs
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