Breakdown of Fjórum dögum áður skoðaði hann trjágreinina og klippurnar klukkutímum saman.
og
and
hann
he
saman
together / on end (after a dative plural time noun)
fjórir
four
skoða
to look at
dagurinn
the day (m)
klukkutíminn
the hour
áður
before (adverb)
trjágreinin
the tree branch
klippurnar
the pruning shears
Questions & Answers about Fjórum dögum áður skoðaði hann trjágreinina og klippurnar klukkutímum saman.
Why is fjórum dögum in the dative case instead of the accusative?
This is the dative of temporal difference. When combined with the comparative time adverb áður (earlier), the dative case is used to specify the exact measurement of the time gap. You can think of it as literally meaning 'earlier by four days'.
Why does the verb skoðaði come before the subject hann?
What is the grammar behind the phrase klukkutímum saman?
This is a common Icelandic set phrase meaning 'for [time period] on end'. It is formed by putting the unit of time into the dative plural (here, klukkutímum) and following it with the word saman (which usually means 'together').
Why is klippurnar plural if he is likely examining just one pair of pruning shears?
Just like the words 'shears' or 'scissors' in English, the Icelandic word klippur is a plural noun even when referring to a single tool. Here it has the plural definite suffix -nar attached and is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb.
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