Breakdown of Þeir vakta götuna og við gerum það líka.
og
and
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
við
we
þeir
they (m)
gera
to do / to make (something) + adjective
líka
also
gatan
the street
vakta
to monitor
Questions & Answers about Þeir vakta götuna og við gerum það líka.
How does the phrase gerum það work here to mean 'do so'?
The phrase gera það literally means 'do it,' but Icelandic uses it exactly like the English 'to do so.' It replaces an active verb phrase—in this case, vakta götuna (monitor the street)—so you don't have to repeat it.
Does the word það change depending on what it replaces?
No, það acts as a fixed neuter singular pronoun here, standing in for the whole previous action. You only conjugate the verb gera to match the new subject (here, við gerum for 'we do').
Could we drop það and just say og við gerum líka?
No, unlike in English where you can often just say 'we do too,' Icelandic requires an object for the verb gera in this context. You must include það to represent the action being done.
Why is 'the street' written as götuna instead of gatana?
The root word is gata (street), which is a weak feminine noun. In the accusative case—required here by the verb vakta—it becomes götu. When you attach the definite article -na, you get götuna.
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