undir / yfir
Under and Over (Undir, Yfir)
undir rúmið (under the bed, going there) but undir rúminu (under the bed, being there).
How It Works
undir
- Accusative, going under: Hundurinn skreið undir borðið. (The dog crawled under the table.)
- Dative, being under: Hundurinn liggur undir borðinu. (The dog is lying under the table.)
yfir
- Accusative, going over or across: Við gengum yfir brúna. (We walked across the bridge.)
- Dative, being above: Lampinn hangir yfir borðinu. (The lamp hangs above the table.)
Moving around in one place counts as location. The accusative needs a change of place. Kötturinn skríður undir rúmið means the cat is crawling in under the bed. Kötturinn skríður undir rúminu means it is crawling around while it is under the bed.
Other uses of yfir. With a time, yfir + accusative means "over" or "during": yfir sumarið (over the summer). With an amount, it means "more than": yfir hundrað manns (over a hundred people).
For other place words, see prepositions of place.
Examples (6)
- Kötturinn skreið undir rúmið.
The cat crawled under the bed.
The cat moves to a new place, so rúmið is accusative.
- Kötturinn sefur undir rúminu.
The cat is sleeping under the bed.
The cat stays in one place, so rúminu is dative.
- Við gengum yfir brúna.
We walked across the bridge.
Word by Word: We walked over the bridge.
- Lampinn hangir yfir borðinu.
The lamp hangs above the table.
Word by Word: The lamp hangs over the table.
- Settu töskuna undir sætið.
Put the bag under the seat.
- Flugvélin flaug yfir jökulinn.
The plane flew over the glacier.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative for a position.
Kötturinn sefur undir rúmið.Kötturinn sefur undir rúminu.Sleeping under the bed means staying in one place, so use the dative.
Using the dative when something is put in a new place (intended meaning: put the bag under the seat).
Settu töskuna undir sætinu.Settu töskuna undir sætið.The bag moves to a new place, so use the accusative: sætið.
How It Connects
Learn This First
undir and yfir build on place prepositions.
Related Patterns
- Movement or Location With í and á
The same accusative-or-dative rule for í and á.
Level 2 - íIn and into (Í)
Also takes the accusative for movement and the dative for location.
Level 1 - áOn and at (Á)
Also takes the accusative for movement and the dative for location.
Level 1 - The Accusative (þolfall)
The case for movement to a new place or across.
Level 2 - The Dative (þágufall)
The case for position.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice undir / yfir in Bubblegum
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