Eftir langt samtal náðum við samkomulagi um að skipta kostnaðinum jafnt.

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Breakdown of Eftir langt samtal náðum við samkomulagi um að skipta kostnaðinum jafnt.

• eftir: after
• um: about
• langur: long

Questions & Answers about Eftir langt samtal náðum við samkomulagi um að skipta kostnaðinum jafnt.

Why is it náðum við instead of við náðum?

This is because Icelandic is a V2 language in main clauses: the finite verb normally comes second.

Here, the sentence starts with Eftir langt samtal. That whole phrase takes the first position, so the finite verb náðum has to come next, and the subject við follows it:

Eftir langt samtal | náðum | við ...

If you started the sentence with the subject instead, then you would say:

Við náðum samkomulagi ...

Both are correct; the word order changes because of the V2 rule.

What case does eftir take here, and why is it langt samtal?

Here eftir means after in a time sense, and in that use it takes the accusative.

So samtal must be in the accusative singular. Since samtal is a neuter noun, the adjective langur has to agree with it, giving:

• langt = accusative singular neuter
• samtal = accusative singular neuter

So:

eftir langt samtal = after a long conversation

Why is the adjective langt and not some other form like langan?