Breakdown of Þótt stúlkan væri hrædd var hún óhult.
vera
to be
hún
she
stúlkan
the girl, the young lady (formal register)
hræddur
afraid, frightened
þótt
although
óhultur
safe (unharmed, out of danger)
Questions & Answers about Þótt stúlkan væri hrædd var hún óhult.
Why does the first clause use væri while the second clause uses var?
The word þótt (although) is a conjunction that always requires the subjunctive mood. That is why we use the past subjunctive væri. The second clause is a standard statement of fact, so it uses the normal past indicative form, var.
Why is the word order var hún instead of hún var in the second half of the sentence?
Why do the adjectives take the forms hrædd and óhult?
Adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Because stúlkan (the girl) is a feminine noun in the nominative singular, the adjectives hræddur (afraid) and óhultur (safe) must take their feminine nominative singular forms: hrædd and óhult.
Is there a difference between using þótt and þó að here?
There is no difference in meaning or grammar. Both translate to 'although' or 'even though,' and both force the following verb into the subjunctive. Þótt is just a slightly shorter, very common alternative to þó að.
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