Breakdown of Við borðum alltaf saman.
saman
together / on end (after a dative plural time noun)
við
we
borða
to eat
alltaf
always
Questions & Answers about Við borðum alltaf saman.
Why does the verb end in -um in this sentence?
Because the subject is við (we). For Group 1 verbs like borða (to eat), the "we" form in the present tense always ends in -um. You take the dictionary form (borða), drop the final -a, and add -um to make borðum.
Why does alltaf come after the verb instead of before it like in English?
Icelandic strictly follows the "V2 rule" for main sentences, meaning the verb (borðum) must be the second piece of information. Since the subject við takes the first spot, the adverb alltaf (always) has to wait until after the verb.
Does the word borða have a literal connection to tables?
Yes! The verb borða (to eat) is directly related to the noun borð, which means "table". You can think of it historically as meaning "to table" or to sit at the table to have a meal.
Will saman change its ending if more people join?
No. saman (together) is an adverb, which means it is a fixed word that never changes its shape. It will always stay exactly like this, no matter who or how many people are doing the action.