Word
Þau eiga gott samband.
Meaning
They have a good relationship.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Þau eiga gott samband.
góður
good
þau
they (n)
eiga
to own / to have (a relationship)
sambandið
the relationship
Questions & Answers about Þau eiga gott samband.
Since this lesson is about hvor annar (each other), why isn't it used in this sentence?
You certainly could say Þau eiga gott samband við hvort annað (They have a good relationship with each other). However, just like in English, the "with each other" is usually left out because the noun samband (relationship) combined with a plural subject already makes the reciprocal meaning obvious.
Why do we use eiga instead of hafa to mean "have" here?
In Icelandic, eiga (which literally means "to own") is the standard verb for personal relationships, friends, and family. You use it to say you "have" a brother, a partner, or in this case, a relationship (samband). The verb hafa is kept for more abstract concepts or temporary states.
Why does the sentence use the neuter pronoun þau for "They"?
What case is gott samband in?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb eiga. However, because samband is a neuter noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its basic dictionary (nominative) form. The adjective gott is in the neuter singular accusative to match.