Breakdown of Þú tapar leiknum með því að gefast upp.
þú
you
leikurinn
the game
tapa
to lose (a game) (+ Dative)
með því að
by doing
gefast upp
to give up
Questions & Answers about Þú tapar leiknum með því að gefast upp.
Why is there a því in með því að if it just translates to "by giving up"?
In Icelandic, you cannot attach a preposition like með directly to an infinitive verb. You must insert a pronoun to act as the object of the preposition. Here, that pronoun is það (it), which takes its dative form því because með dictates the dative case in this context. Literally, you are saying "with it to give up".
Why is "the game" written as leiknum instead of the accusative leikinn?
The verb tapa (to lose) is a verb that requires its object to be in the dative case. The base word is leikur, its dative form is leik, and attaching the dative definite article makes it leiknum.
Why does gefast end in "-st"?
This is the middle voice form of the verb gefa (to give). The -st ending often alters the meaning of a base verb. While gefa means "to give" (a gift, for example), using the middle voice form along with the word upp gives us gefast upp, which specifically means "to give up" or "to surrender".
Since tapar is in the present tense, does this mean "you lose" in general, or can it mean "you will lose"?
It can mean both! Icelandic does not have a dedicated future tense that uses a helper verb like "will". Context dictates the meaning, so þú tapar translates just as well to "you will lose" if you are warning someone about the current game.
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