Breakdown of Þær ætla að gagnrýna þannig áskoranir.
þær
they (f)
að
to (infinitive marker)
ætla
to intend
þannig
like that, thus
gagnrýna
to criticize
áskorunin
the challenge
Questions & Answers about Þær ætla að gagnrýna þannig áskoranir.
Why doesn't þannig change its ending to match áskoranir?
Þannig (like that / such) is an invariable word. Even though it acts like an adjective here describing the noun áskoranir (challenges), it never changes its form for gender, number, or case. You can use it exactly as it is in front of any noun.
What case is áskoranir in here, and why?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb gagnrýna (to criticize). The singular form is áskorun, and nouns ending in -un are feminine. For these nouns, the plural accusative looks exactly like the plural nominative: áskoranir.
Why use þær for "they" instead of þeir or þau?
Icelandic has three words for "they" depending on gender: þeir (all masculine), þær (all feminine), and þau (mixed group or all neuter). Here, the use of þær tells us that the group of people intending to criticize these challenges consists entirely of females or feminine entities.
Could I use svona instead of þannig in this sentence?
Yes, you could say svona áskoranir, and it would mean essentially the same thing. Technically, svona leans more towards "challenges like this" and þannig leans towards "challenges like that", but in everyday speech they are often used interchangeably to mean "such challenges". Just like þannig, svona is invariable and never declines.
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