Subjects in the Dative or Accusative
Mig langar í kaffi. (I'd like a coffee.) Mér finnst þetta gott. (I like this.) The person is not in the nominative, and the verb does not change for them.
How It Works
What makes these verbs different. English says I want, with I as the subject. Icelandic mig langar is more like "it longs me". The person still comes first and acts as the subject, but it keeps the case the verb requires.
Accusative verbs. Use mig, þig, hann, hana, okkur, ykkur, þá/þær/þau:
- mig langar (I want): Mig langar að fara til Íslands. (mig langar)
- mig vantar (I need, I lack): Mig vantar penna. (mig vantar)
- mig dreymdi (I dreamed), mig grunar (I suspect)
Dative verbs. Use mér, þér, honum, henni, okkur, ykkur, þeim:
- mér finnst (I think, I find): Hvað finnst þér? (mér finnst)
- mér líður (I feel): Hvernig líður þér? (mér líður)
- mér líkar (I like): Mér líkar vel við hann. (mér líkar)
- mér er kalt (I am cold) (mér er kalt)
The verb does not agree with the person. The verb stays in the third person singular: Okkur langar, not okkur langa. Þeim líður vel, not þeim líða vel. It changes only to agree with a plural thing in the nominative: Mér líka þessir skór (I like these shoes).
Keep the right case. Some speakers put the dative on accusative verbs, saying mér langar or mér vantar. This is called þágufallssýki. It is nonstandard and corrected in school, so learn and use mig langar and mig vantar. The verbs in More Verbs With Oblique Subjects work the same way.
Examples (6)
- Mig langar í ís.
I'd like some ice cream.
Word by Word: Me(acc) longs in ice-cream.
- Okkur vantar mjólk.
We need milk.
Word by Word: Us(acc) lacks milk.
The verb stays singular: vantar.
- Mér finnst þetta mjög gott.
I think this is very good.
Word by Word: Me(dat) finds this very good.
- Hvernig líður þér?
How are you feeling?
Word by Word: How feels you(dat)?
- Þeim líður vel á Íslandi.
They are doing well in Iceland.
Word by Word: Them(dat) feels well in Iceland.
- Mig dreymdi skrýtinn draum.
I had a strange dream.
Word by Word: Me(acc) dreamed strange dream.
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative with an oblique-subject verb.
Ég langar að fara heim.Mig langar að fara heim.langa takes an accusative subject: mig, not ég.
Using the dative with an accusative verb (þágufallssýki).
Mér vantar hjálp.Mig vantar hjálp.vanta takes the accusative. mér vantar is nonstandard.
Making the verb agree with a plural person.
Okkur langa að koma.Okkur langar að koma.With these verbs the verb stays in the third person singular, whoever the person is.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Oblique subjects build on mig langar and mér finnst.
Related Patterns
- mig vantarNeeding (Mig Vantar)
Another accusative-subject verb, for needing and lacking.
Level 2 - mér líðurHow You Feel (Mér Líður)
A dative-subject verb for how you feel.
Level 2 - mér er kaltBeing Cold or Warm (Mér Er Kalt)
Feeling cold or warm with a dative person.
Level 2 - Dative Sickness (þágufallssýki)
The nonstandard use of the dative for accusative verbs.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Subjects in the Dative or Accusative in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Icelandic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
