Log inSign up

Þó að veðrið breytist oft, er ég samt hress.

Þó að veðrið breytist oft, er ég samt hress.
Although the weather changes often, I am still energetic.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Icelandic grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Icelandic now

Questions & Answers about Þó að veðrið breytist oft, er ég samt hress.

What is the role of Þó að here, and is it the same as þótt?

Þó að introduces a concessive subordinate clause (roughly although/even though). Þótt means the same thing and is very common too. In practice:

  • þó að + clause and þótt + clause are often interchangeable.
  • Style/region can affect preference, but both are standard.
Why is there a comma after oft?

Because the sentence starts with a subordinate clause (Þó að veðrið breytist oft) and then continues with the main clause (er ég samt hress). Icelandic normally separates an initial subordinate clause from the main clause with a comma, similar to English: Although…, I….

Why does the main clause say er ég instead of ég er?

This is the usual Icelandic “verb-second” (V2) pattern in main clauses. When something other than the subject comes first (here, the whole subordinate clause), the finite verb typically comes next:

  • Initial element: Þó að veðrið breytist oft,
  • Finite verb: er
  • Subject: ég So you get …, er ég … rather than …, ég er ….
What exactly is veðrið—why the -ið ending?

veður means weather (a neuter noun). veðrið is the weather (definite form). Icelandic often attaches the definite article to the end of the noun:

  • veður = weather
  • veðrið = the weather
What does breytist mean grammatically, and why does it end in -st?

It comes from the verb breytast (“to change” in an intransitive sense: to change, to vary). The -st marks the so-called middle voice (often corresponding to “change (by itself)” / “become” type meanings).
So veðrið breytist is literally like the weather changes (no direct object).

Does þó að require the subjunctive? If so, is breytist subjunctive?

Often, concessive clauses with þó/þótt (að) take the subjunctive, especially in more formal Icelandic. However, with breytist (3rd person singular), present indicative and present subjunctive look the same in form for this verb—so you can’t tell just by the word breytist.
In other persons/numbers you may see a clearer difference (especially 3rd plural for many verbs).

Why is oft placed where it is: veðrið breytist oft?

That’s a very typical placement: the adverb oft (often) comes after the finite verb phrase in a simple clause. You’ll commonly see:

  • subject + verb + adverb: veðrið breytist oft

Other placements can happen for emphasis, but this is the neutral one.

What does samt do in the main clause, and where can it go?

samt means still / nevertheless / anyway, reinforcing the contrast (“despite that”). It’s common right after the subject (or early in the clause):

  • er ég samt hress = “I am still/nevertheless cheerful.”

You may also see it later depending on rhythm/emphasis, but this position is very natural.

Why is hress not changing form—shouldn’t adjectives have endings?

In ég er hress, hress is a predicate adjective (“I am cheerful”). Many Icelandic adjectives show gender/number/case agreement, but hress is one of those that often appears without an extra ending in this position (especially in the masculine singular nominative, which is the form you need with ég).
If you changed the subject, you might see agreement elsewhere (e.g., plural or different adjective patterns), but hress itself is commonly used just like this.

Can you say it without að, like Þó veðrið breytist oft…?
Yes, you can sometimes omit að, especially in a slightly more literary/compact style (and you’ll also see þótt used without að). But Þó að … is very common and safe, especially for learners.