What are common mistakes with Þágufall?

Treating dative verbs like normal verbs (*Ég líka instead of Mér líkar). The dative 'subject' feels inverted. 🇬🇧 English speakers: 'I like' → Mér líkar (literally 'to-me pleases'). Dative subjects are completely alien to English. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Мне нравится = Mér líkar — perfect parallel! Russian dative subjects transfer directly. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Líbí se mi = Mér líkar — excellent match. Czech 3. pád works the same way. 🇩🇪 German speakers: Mir gefällt = Mér líkar — identical construction. Excellent transfer.

Þágufall: rules, examples & exercises | Icelandic Grammar A1

Þágufall

A1 — Fallbeygingar

Dative case (þágufall) for indirect objects, after certain prepositions, and with dative verbs

Can use the dative case for indirect objects, with prepositions, and with dative verbs like líka

Dative case (þágufall) for indirect objects, after certain prepositions, and with dative verbs

Examples

Mér líkar kaffi. — I like coffee.
Ég gef honum gjöf. — I give him a gift.
Barninu finnst þetta skemmtilegt. — The child finds this fun.

FallbeygingarA1

Dative Case

Dative case (þágufall) for indirect objects, after certain prepositions, and with dative verbs

Learning Goal

Can use the dative case for indirect objects, with prepositions, and with dative verbs like líka

Exam Skills:VISC-A1

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Mér líkar kaffi.

I like coffee.

Ég gef honum gjöf.

I give him a gift.

Barninu finnst þetta skemmtilegt.

The child finds this fun.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Þágufall (dative) er þriðja fallið. Notkun:

Óbeint andlag: Ég gef henni bók. (I give her a book.)
Eftir forsetningum: frá, úr, á (staðsetning), í (staðsetning)
Með þágufallssagnorðum: líka, finnast, þykja

Kyn	Óákveðið	Ákveðið
Karlkyn	hesti	hestinum
Kvenkyn	konu	konunni
Hvorugkyn	barni	barninu

Persónufornöfn í þágufalli:

Nefnifall	Þágufall
ég	mér
þú	þér
hann	honum
hún	henni
það	því
við	okkur
þið	ykkur
þeir/þær/þau	þeim

Þágufallssagnorð: Mér líkar þetta. (I like this — literally 'This pleases me.') Subject in dative!

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Treating dative verbs like normal verbs (*Ég líka instead of Mér líkar). The dative 'subject' feels inverted. 🇬🇧 English speakers: 'I like' → Mér líkar (literally 'to-me pleases'). Dative subjects are completely alien to English.

Mér líkar kaffi.

I like coffee.

Mér = me (dative). Líkar = pleases. Kaffi = coffee (neuter, nominative — it's the grammatical subject!)

Ég gef honum gjöf.

I give him a gift.

Honum = him (dative of hann). Gjöf = gift (accusative, direct object). Dative = indirect object.

Barninu finnst þetta skemmtilegt.

The child finds this fun.

Barninu = the child (dative!). Finnst = finds/thinks. Another dative verb — the experiencer is in dative.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Þágufall used?: Þágufallssagnorð: Mér líkar þetta. (I like this — literally 'This pleases me.') Subject in dative!
What are common mistakes with Þágufall?: Treating dative verbs like normal verbs (*Ég líka instead of Mér líkar). The dative 'subject' feels inverted. 🇬🇧 English speakers: 'I like' → Mér líkar (literally 'to-me pleases'). Dative subjects are completely alien to English. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Мне нравится = Mér líkar — perfect parallel! Russian dative subjects transfer directly. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Líbí se mi = Mér líkar — excellent match. Czech 3. pád works the same way. 🇩🇪 German speakers: Mir gefällt = Mér líkar — identical construction. Excellent transfer.