Breakdown of Við einbeitum okkur að því að bæta þessa stillingu.
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
við
we
að
to (infinitive marker)
þessi
this (m/f)
bæta
to improve
einbeita sér
to concentrate
stillingin
the setting
Questions & Answers about Við einbeitum okkur að því að bæta þessa stillingu.
Why are there two að words separated by því?
This connects a preposition to an action! The verb einbeita sér takes the preposition að ('on'). But in Icelandic, a preposition cannot sit directly next to an infinitive verb. You must insert a 'dummy' pronoun between them. The default dummy pronoun is það ('it'), but because the preposition að always forces the dative case, það changes to því. Finally, the second að is just the infinitive marker ('to') that belongs to the verb bæta ('improve'). Literally, you are saying 'We concentrate ourselves on it to improve...'.
Why do we need the word okkur after einbeitum?
The verb for 'to concentrate' is einbeita sér, which is a reflexive verb. This means it requires a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. You aren't just concentrating; you are 'concentrating yourself'. Since the subject is við ('we'), the matching reflexive pronoun is okkur ('ourselves').
Which case is okkur in here?
It is in the dative case. The verb einbeita sér requires its reflexive pronoun to be dative. While the accusative and dative forms for við are exactly the same (okkur), it is grammatically dative in this sentence.
Why is 'this setting' translated as þessa stillingu instead of þessi stilling?
The verb bæta ('to improve') forces the object that follows it into the accusative case. Stilling ('setting') is a feminine noun, so it changes to stillingu in the accusative. The word for 'this' must match its gender, number, and case, so it becomes the feminine accusative þessa.
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