Breakdown of Hún gefur sjálfri sér frelsi.
hún
she
gefa
to give
sér
himself/herself/themselves (dat)
sjálfur
self, oneself
frelsið
the freedom
Questions & Answers about Hún gefur sjálfri sér frelsi.
Why are we using the dative forms sjálfri sér instead of accusative?
The verb gefa (to give) takes two objects: the receiver of the gift is in the dative case, and the thing being given is in the accusative case. Since "herself" is the receiver here, both the reflexive pronoun sér and the intensifying pronoun sjálfri must be dative.
How do I know to use sjálfri instead of another dative form like sjálfum?
Does the sentence still make sense if I leave out sjálfri?
Yes, Hún gefur sér frelsi is perfectly grammatical and means the exact same thing. Adding sjálfri just adds emphasis, highlighting that she is giving this freedom specifically to herself.
If the thing being given is in the accusative case, why doesn't frelsi change its ending?
The noun frelsi (freedom) is a neuter noun. In Icelandic, all neuter nouns have the exact same form in the accusative case as they do in the nominative case. So it actually is in the accusative here, even though the word doesn't change!
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