Breakdown of Strákurinn spilar oft án þess að svindla.
strákurinn
the boy
spila
to play
oft
often
án þess að
without doing
Questions & Answers about Strákurinn spilar oft án þess að svindla.
Why does the phrase for "without doing" use the word "þess"?
The preposition án ("without") always takes the genitive case. In Icelandic, you can't put an infinitive verb directly after a preposition. Instead, we use the pronoun það ("it") as a bridge. The genitive form of það is þess. So án þess að svindla literally translates to "without of it to cheat".
Does the verb after "án þess að" change if the subject is plural?
No, it always stays in the infinitive! Phrases like án þess að ("without doing") and með því að ("by doing") lock the following verb into its dictionary form using the infinitive marker að. Because of this, svindla stays exactly the same, no matter who is playing.
I learned that "að leika" also means to play. Why is "spilar" used here instead?
Að spila is used for playing structured games with rules, like board games, cards, or sports, as well as musical instruments. Að leika (sér) is for unstructured, free play, like children playing make-believe. Since cheating (svindla) implies breaking rules, spilar is the natural choice here.
Could "oft" go before the verb, like in the English translation?