Þau upplifa þögnina mánuðum saman.

Questions & Answers about Þau upplifa þögnina mánuðum saman.

How does the phrase mánuðum saman work to mean "for months on end"?
To express an extended, continuous duration of time in Icelandic, you use a time word in the dative plural followed by saman (which normally means "together"). Here, mánuðum is the dative plural of mánuður (month). The literal translation is "months together", but the set phrase means "for months on end".
Could I put saman before the noun, like a normal preposition?
No, in these time-duration expressions, saman functions strictly as a postposition. This means it must always follow the dative noun it governs. Saying saman mánuðum would sound incorrect to a native speaker.
Why is þögnina in the accusative case here?
It is the direct object of the verb upplifa (to experience), which dictates the accusative case. The root word is þögn (silence), which is a feminine noun. When you add the accusative singular definite article ("the"), it becomes þögnina.
Why use the neuter pronoun Þau for "they"?
Þau is the neuter plural form of "they". In Icelandic, you use the neuter pronoun to refer to a mixed-gender group of people, or when the gender of the group is completely unknown. Unless you know the group consists entirely of men (þeir) or entirely of women (þær), þau is the correct choice.

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