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Questions & Answers about Hún elskar sjálfa sig.
What do the two words sjálfa sig each mean?
- sig is the third-person reflexive object pronoun, used when the object refers back to the subject (herself/himself/itself/themselves).
- sjálfa is an emphatic adjective meaning self that agrees with the subject in gender/number and with the object in case. Together sjálfa sig means herself with emphasis (literally self herself).
Why is it sjálfa here and not sjálfan or sjálft?
Because the subject is feminine singular (hún) and the phrase is in the accusative case (as the direct object of elskar). The forms are:
- Masculine singular accusative: sjálfan (e.g., Hann elskar sjálfan sig.)
- Feminine singular accusative: sjálfa (our sentence)
- Neuter singular accusative: sjálft (e.g., Barnið elskar sjálft sig.)
Why is it sig and not hana for her?
sig is reflexive: it must be used when the object refers back to the subject of the clause. hana means her (some other female), not herself.
- Hún elskar sjálfa sig. = She loves herself.
- Hún elskar hana. = She loves her (another woman).
Can I drop and just say ?