Breakdown of Maður efast um að þessi vitnisburður bjargi sakborningnum.
um
about
þessi
this (m/f)
að
that (conjunction)
maður
one (impersonal pronoun)
bjarga
to rescue, to save (+ Dative)
efast
to doubt
vitnisburðurinn
the testimony
sakborningurinn
the defendant
Questions & Answers about Maður efast um að þessi vitnisburður bjargi sakborningnum.
Why is the verb bjargi in the subjunctive rather than the indicative?
It is the present subjunctive form of bjarga. Because efast um að expresses doubt about whether the testimony will actually save the defendant, the following clause is not a confirmed fact. This uncertainty triggers the subjunctive mood, as taught in this lesson.
Why do we need the preposition um before að? Can we just say efast að?
You cannot drop the um. The verb efast is tightly bound to the preposition um when expressing doubt about something. When a verb-preposition phrase introduces a subordinate clause starting with að, Icelandic keeps the preposition directly in front of the conjunction, forming efast um að.
Why is sakborningnum in the dative case?
The verb bjarga (to save) strictly governs the dative case for the person or thing being rescued. Therefore, the nominative sakborningur (defendant) takes the dative definite ending, becoming sakborningnum.
How do we know maður means 'one' here rather than 'a man'?
In Icelandic, the undefined noun maður is heavily used as a generic impersonal pronoun meaning 'one', 'you', or 'people in general'. If the speaker meant a specific man, they would likely use the definite form maðurinn (the man).
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