Við lesum um frádráttinn því að hann er nýr.

In Icelandic, the simple present tense often covers both meanings:

• we read
• we are reading

So Við lesum can mean either we read or we are reading, depending on context. Icelandic does not normally need a special progressive form the way English does.

Við means we.

In Icelandic, subject pronouns are often used, especially in simple sentences like this one, so Við lesum is the normal way to say we read / we are reading.

Because the verb ending already gives some information, pronouns can sometimes be omitted in certain styles, but for learners it is best to think of við as the normal subject here.

Um here means about.

So:

• lesa um eitthvað = to read about something

That means Við lesum um frádráttinn = We are reading about the deduction.

A very important grammar point is that um takes the accusative case, which is why the noun appears as frádráttinn rather than its dictionary form.

The dictionary form is frádráttur.

In the sentence, it becomes frádráttinn because:

• the preposition um requires the accusative
• the noun is definite: the deduction

So the changes are roughly:

• frádráttur = a deduction / deduction
• frádráttinn = the deduction in the accusative singular

This is very common in Icelandic: nouns change form depending on case and definiteness.

The ending -inn is the definite article attached to the noun. Icelandic usually adds the to the end of the word instead of putting a separate word in front.

So:

• frádráttur = deduction
• frádrátturinn = the deduction (nominative)
• frádráttinn = the deduction (accusative)

English uses a separate word, the, but Icelandic usually builds it into the noun itself.

Because frádráttur is a masculine noun.

In Icelandic, pronouns often follow grammatical gender, not natural gender. So even if something is an object or abstract idea, it can still be referred to as:

• hann for masculine nouns
• hún for feminine nouns
• það for neuter nouns

Since frádráttur is masculine, the sentence uses hann = it.

So here hann is best translated as it, even though the Icelandic word is literally the masculine pronoun.

Því að means because.

So:

• Við lesum um frádráttinn því að hann er nýr.
• We are reading about the deduction because it is new.

You may also see other ways to say because in Icelandic, such as af því að. In many contexts, því að and af því að are both possible, though usage can vary by style and speaker.

Because nýr agrees with hann, which refers to frádráttur, a masculine singular noun.

After the verb er (is), the adjective stays in the nominative and agrees with the subject:

• hann er nýr = it is new for a masculine noun
• hún er ný = for a feminine noun
• það er nýtt = for a neuter noun

So nýr is the correct masculine singular nominative form.

They are doing different jobs in the sentence.

• frádráttinn is the object of the preposition um, so it must be in the accusative
• nýr describes the subject in the clause hann er nýr, so it is in the nominative

So even though hann refers back to frádráttinn, the grammar of the second clause is separate:

• um frádráttinn = accusative after um
• hann er nýr = nominative subject + adjective

This is a very common thing in Icelandic and worth getting used to.

It has two parts:

1. Við lesum um frádráttinn = We are reading about the deduction

2. því að hann er nýr = because it is new

So the overall pattern is:

• main clause + því að
  • subordinate clause

The second clause explains the reason for the first one.

Yes.

The Icelandic present tense lesum can often be translated either as:

• we read
• we are reading

The correct English translation depends on context. If this is happening right now, we are reading is natural. If it describes a more general situation, we read could also work.

Not here. The word order is quite straightforward:

• hann er nýr = it is new

That is the normal order: subject + verb + complement.

In some Icelandic subordinate clauses, learners notice word-order differences, especially with adverbs, but this sentence is simple and follows the expected pattern.

Then you would usually remove the definite article from the noun.

Compare:

• um frádráttinn = about the deduction
• um frádrátt = about deduction / about a deduction

The exact English translation depends on context, but the important Icelandic difference is whether the noun has the built-in definite article.

So frádráttinn is specifically the deduction, not just a deduction.