Questions & Answers about Þó að ég sé líka með kvef, er ég samt án hita.
Why does the sentence start with Þó að and what does it do grammatically?
Þó að means although / even though and introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause. In Icelandic, clauses introduced by þó að typically take the subjunctive mood, which is why you see sé instead of er later in that clause.
Why is it ég sé and not ég er?
Because sé is the present subjunctive of the verb að vera (to be). After conjunctions like þó að (although), Icelandic often uses the subjunctive to mark something concessive (granting a point), hypothetical, or contrasted with what follows.
- Indicative present: ég er = I am
- Subjunctive present: ég sé = still translates as I am here, but the mood is different because of the grammar.
Why is there a comma after kvef?
The comma separates the introductory subordinate clause from the main clause:
- Subordinate clause: Þó að ég sé líka með kvef
- Main clause: er ég samt án hita
This comma is standard in Icelandic when a subordinate clause comes first.
Why is the word order er ég (verb before subject) in the second part?