Breakdown of Úrslitin ollu þeim miklum vonbrigðum.
þeim
them (dative)
mikill
great, much (adjective: snjórinn er mikill)
úrslitin
the results
valda
to cause
vonbrigðin
the disappointment
Questions & Answers about Úrslitin ollu þeim miklum vonbrigðum.
Why are both þeim and miklum vonbrigðum in the dative case here?
What is the infinitive form of the verb ollu, and why does it look so different?
The infinitive is valda (to cause), which has a highly irregular conjugation. The third person plural past tense is ollu. This is one of those strong verbs you just have to memorize, as the v disappears and the vowel changes significantly (veldur in present, olli in past singular, ollu in past plural).
Why is vonbrigðum plural, even though the English translation says "disappointment" (singular)?
In Icelandic, the word for disappointment, vonbrigði, is almost always used in the neuter plural, even when referring to a single disappointing event. Because the noun is plural, the adjective modifying it, miklum, must also be in the dative plural form.
Is Úrslitin neuter singular or plural here?
It is neuter plural. The base noun is úrslit (results), which is a neuter noun commonly used in the plural. Adding the plural definite article suffix -in makes it úrslitin (the results). You can also double-check that it's plural because it triggers the plural verb form ollu instead of the singular olli.
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