Breakdown of Það var áfanginn sem gerði þjálfunina þeim mun markvissari.
vera
to be
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
gera
to do / to make (something) + adjective
sem
who / which / that
áfanginn
the milestone
þeim mun
all the more
þjálfunin
the training
markviss
purposeful
Questions & Answers about Það var áfanginn sem gerði þjálfunina þeim mun markvissari.
How does þeim mun work in this sentence, and what does it literally mean?
Þeim mun translates to 'all the more' or 'that much more.' Literally, it means 'by that difference' (þeim is the dative masculine form of sá meaning 'that', and mun is the dative of the masculine noun munur meaning 'difference'). It acts as an intensifier for the comparative adjective markvissari.
Does the comparative adjective markvissari change to agree with þjálfunina?
Yes, but comparatives in Icelandic have very simple endings. Because þjálfunina (the training) is a feminine accusative noun, the comparative adjective takes the feminine weak form markvissari. For feminine and masculine nouns in almost all cases, the comparative simply ends in -ari.
What is the literal breakdown of the base word for markvissari?
The base adjective is markviss, which combines mark (target or goal) and viss (certain or sure). Together it means purposeful, targeted, or systematic. The -ari suffix makes it comparative, meaning 'more purposeful'.
Why use Það var áfanginn sem... instead of just starting with Áfanginn gerði...?
This structure is used for emphasis, exactly like the English 'It was the milestone that...'. By isolating áfanginn (the milestone) with a relative clause starting with sem (that), the speaker highlights that this specific milestone, rather than anything else, was the catalyst.
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