Question 1

Why is it tekur þær niður and not tekur niður þær?

Accepted Answer

This is a strict rule for phrasal verbs with particles! When the direct object is a pronoun (like þær, meaning "them"), it must be placed between the verb and the particle. If the object were a full noun instead, like the pictures (myndirnar), the particle usually comes first: hann tekur niður myndirnar.

Question 2

How do we know what þær refers to?

Accepted Answer

Þær is the feminine plural pronoun. In Icelandic, objects keep their grammatical gender even when replaced by a pronoun. Since he is taking "them" down, þær must refer to a plural feminine noun mentioned earlier in the conversation, like pictures (myndir) or shelves (hillur).

Question 3

Why use eftir að instead of just eftir?

Accepted Answer

Because it connects two full clauses. Eftir by itself is a preposition and can only be followed by a noun (like eftir vinnu, "after work"). When "after" is followed by a new subject and verb (like hann finnur, "he finds"), you must use the conjunction phrase eftir að.

Question 4

Why does málninguna end in -una?

Accepted Answer

The base word is málning (paint), which is a feminine noun. Here it is the direct object of finnur (finds), so it is in the accusative case. For feminine nouns ending in -ing, the accusative form is identical to the dictionary form, but we need to add the accusative definite article "the", which is -una, resulting in málninguna.

Hann tekur þær niður eftir að hann finnur málninguna.

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