Breakdown of Ákefðin í þjálfuninni minnkaði smám saman.
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
minnka
to reduce / to decrease (intransitive) / to reduce (something)
þjálfunin
the training
ákefðin
the intensity
Questions & Answers about Ákefðin í þjálfuninni minnkaði smám saman.
How does the phrase smám saman literally mean "gradually"?
It is a fixed idiom meaning "little by little" or "gradually". Smám is the dative plural form of the adjective smár (small), and saman means "together". You can think of it literally as "by smalls together".
Why does the preposition "í" take the dative case in "þjálfuninni" here instead of the accusative?
The preposition í takes the dative when indicating a fixed state, condition, or location ("in"), and the accusative when indicating motion or direction ("into"). Because the intensity exists within the training (a state rather than a transition into it), it requires the dative case.
Why are both "ákefðin" and "þjálfuninni" in their definite forms?
Icelandic uses the definite article for abstract concepts (like intensity) and activities (like training) much more often than English, especially when referring to a known context. Because the sentence is talking about the specific intensity of a specific training program, both nouns take the definite suffix.
Is the verb "minnkaði" related to the word for "smaller"?
Yes! The infinitive minnka (to decrease or shrink) is derived from the same root as minni (smaller). It is a standard weak verb, which is why it simply takes the regular past tense ending -aði to become minnkaði (decreased).