gerðum

Gerðum is a grammatical form in Icelandic, the dative plural of the noun gerð, which means form, type, or kind. The base noun gerð is feminine; its nominative plural is gerðir, while the dative plural is gerðum. The form gerðum appears when the noun is in the dative case, typically in sentences that use a preposition or verb that governs the dative.

In practice, gerðum is most likely to be seen in descriptive or scientific contexts, as well as in everyday language when discussing categories or varieties. It is important to distinguish gerðum from gerðir (the nominative plural form) in order to maintain correct case agreement within a sentence. The choice of form affects how a noun interacts with other words, such as adjectives and determiners, in Icelandic grammar.

Usage notes and examples: a common instance is the phrase í þessum gerðum, meaning “in these kinds” or “in these forms,” where í governs the dative. Beyond this, gerðum appears wherever the speaker is referring to multiple kinds or forms within a broader discussion, without shifting the meaning of the underlying word.

Etymology: gerð derives from Old Norse and is related to the sense of form, shape, or kind found across Scandinavian languages. The dative plural gerðum is a natural grammatical extension of this root in Icelandic.

See also: Icelandic grammar, noun declension, gerð (the base noun).