Consequence connectives (af þeim sökum)

When discussing formal consequences, such as delays in global shipping or complexities in the supply chain, you will frequently use the connective phrase af þeim sökum (for this reason / for those reasons).

Verb-Second (V2) Word Order

Because af þeim sökum is an adverbial phrase, placing it at the beginning of a clause triggers the Verb-Second (V2) rule. The conjugated verb must immediately follow it. This applies whether af þeim sökum starts a brand-new sentence or immediately follows a coordinating conjunction like og (and).

Customs stopped the container. For this reason, the delivery is late.
Tollurinn stoppaði gáminn. Af þeim sökum er sendingin sein.
The container is heavy, and for this reason the transport is costly.
Gámurinn er þungur og af þeim sökum er flutningurinn kostnaðarsamur.

Deducing Consequences

If you are drawing conclusions about a disruption, combine af þeim sökum with the modal structure hlýtur að hafa (must have) followed by a past participle.

For this reason, the cargo must have been delayed.
Af þeim sökum hlýtur farmurinn að hafa tafist.

You can also use this structure on its own to express strong certainty about what has happened.

The disruption must have ruined the supply chain.
Truflunin hlýtur að hafa skemmt aðfangakeðjuna.

Discussing Impact and Failures

When explaining the ripple effects of a disrupted supply chain, you will often use finna fyrir (to feel, notice). Keep in mind that this phrase requires the following noun to be in the dative case.

The demand is high, and for this reason we feel the shortage.
Eftirspurnin er mikil og af þeim sökum finnum við fyrir skortinum.

To express that multiple things failed to happen, use the correlative conjunction hvorki ... né (neither ... nor).

The supplier sent neither the cargo nor the container.
Birgirinn sendi hvorki farminn né gáminn.

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