Breakdown of Við verðum að yfirstíga erfiðleikann um leið og við getum.
við
we
að
to (infinitive marker)
verða
to become; will be
geta
to be able to
um leið og
as soon as
yfirstíga
to overcome
erfiðleikinn
the difficulty
Questions & Answers about Við verðum að yfirstíga erfiðleikann um leið og við getum.
How does um leið og translate to "as soon as" here, rather than "at the same time as"?
The phrase um leið og is a versatile conjunction. While it often means "at the same time as" or "while", it is also the standard Icelandic idiom for "as soon as". In this context, um leið og við getum means acting at the very first moment we are able to.
What is the root of the verb yfirstíga?
It is a compound verb made of yfir (over) and stíga (to step). Much like the English word "overcome", it is used figuratively here to mean defeating or getting past a problem.
Why does erfiðleikann end in -ann?
This is the masculine accusative singular form with the definite article attached. The root word is the weak masculine noun erfiðleiki (difficulty). Because it is the direct object of the verb yfirstíga, it takes the accusative form erfiðleika, and adding the definite article makes it erfiðleikann (the difficulty).
Could we use við þurfum að instead of við verðum að in this sentence?
Yes, but it changes the nuance slightly. Verða að indicates a strong, absolute obligation ("we must" or "we have to"), whereas þurfa að is usually a bit milder, expressing a need ("we need to"). Here, verðum að emphasizes the absolute urgency of overcoming the difficulty.
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