Learn Icelandic: Breytnin getur endurspeglað dyggðina.

In Icelandic, when you talk about an abstract concept in a broad, universal sense (like conduct, virtue, love, or life), it usually takes the definite article. That is why we use breytnin (the conduct) and dyggðina (the virtue) here, even though English leaves the article out.

This lesson is about using hið + weak adjective for abstract concepts (like hið góða for the good). Why don't we use hið in this sentence?

The hið + adjective structure is used to turn an adjective into an abstract noun. In this sentence, breytni and dyggð are already true nouns, not adjectives. Therefore, they just take their normal suffixed definite articles to express the abstract concept instead of using hið.

Why is the verb endurspeglað in its supine form rather than the infinitive?

The verb geta (can or be able to) is unique among Icelandic modal verbs because it forces the main verb that follows it into the supine form, rather than the infinitive. That is why it is getur endurspeglað and not getur endurspegla.

How is the word endurspeglað built?

It is a compound of the prefix endur- (meaning re- or again) and the verb spegla (to mirror), which comes from the noun spegill (mirror). So, to reflect in Icelandic is literally to re-mirror.