Breakdown of Þeir lesa leiðbeiningarnar og setja skápinn saman sjálfir.
og
and
saman
together / on end (after a dative plural time noun)
þeir
they (m)
lesa
to read
Questions & Answers about Þeir lesa leiðbeiningarnar og setja skápinn saman sjálfir.
Why do we use sjálfir instead of just sjálfur?
Sjálfur changes to match the gender, number, and case of the word it emphasizes. Because it emphasizes the subject þeir (masculine, plural, nominative), it takes the masculine plural nominative form sjálfir.
Why is sjálfir placed at the very end of the sentence?
When emphasizing that the subject did something on their own (they did it themselves), Icelandic usually places the emphasizing word sjálfur at the end of the clause or sentence.
Why does skápinn (the cabinet) go between setja and saman?
The verb setja saman means to put together or assemble. In Icelandic, when a verb has an extra part like this, the direct object usually goes between the main verb and the extra word.
What case is leiðbeiningarnar and why?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb lesa (to read). It is the plural form of the feminine noun leiðbeining (instruction) with the definite article attached to the end.