In formal Icelandic, you might use conjunctions at the start or middle of a sentence to show contrast. But in everyday speech, you can easily express a counterpoint or concession by simply adding þó (though) to the very end of your sentence.
This structure is perfect for casually weighing the pros and cons of entertainment, like debating video games.
Sentence-Final "þó"
Using þó at the end of a sentence is incredibly straightforward. It acts exactly like "though" in casual English. Because it is simply tagged onto the end of a complete thought, it does not trigger any word order changes. You just build a normal sentence and drop þó at the very end.
| I tried the new game console. I cannot find the controller, though. | Ég prófaði nýju leikjatölvuna. Ég get ekki fundið stýripinnann þó. |
| This game console is very expensive. The graphics are fantastic, though. | Þessi leikjatölva er mjög dýr. Grafíkin er frábær þó. |
Notice how the second sentence stands on its own as a complete thought, and þó just adds a layer of contrast to the sentence before it.
Weighing Opinions
You will often use this structure when expressing personal opinions about different aspects of a game, using phrases like mér finnst (I find / I think).
| The graphics are beautiful. I find the storyline boring, though. | Grafíkin er falleg. Mér finnst söguþráðurinn leiðinlegur þó. |
| The storyline is long. I find the soundtrack fantastic, though. | Söguþráðurinn er langur. Mér finnst hljóðrásin frábær þó. |
Discussing Game Features
When breaking down why a game is good or bad, you can seamlessly combine þó with specific gaming vocabulary.
| The soundtrack is slow. There is a lot of action, though. | Hljóðrásin er hæg. Það er mikill hasar þó. |
| I changed the perspective. The gameplay is difficult, though. | Ég breytti sjónarhorninu. Spilunin er erfið þó. |
Using "þó" in the Past Tense
The rule remains exactly the same when you are talking about a game you played in the past. Just form your past tense sentence normally and add þó at the end.
| The action was exciting. The graphics were bad, though. | Hasarinn var spennandi. Grafíkin var slæm þó. |