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Þau spila alltaf inni.

Þau spila alltaf inni.
They always play inside.
From Lesson 7:Group 1 weak verbs (-ar)·Icelandic

Breakdown of Þau spila alltaf inni.

inni
inside
þau
they (n)
alltaf
always
spila
to play

Questions & Answers about Þau spila alltaf inni.

Why is the verb spila here and not spilar?
Spila is a Group 1 verb. In the present tense, these verbs add -ar for singular subjects (like hann spilar for "he plays"). However, for plural subjects like þau ("they"), Group 1 verbs drop the ending and look exactly like their dictionary form, so it is just spila.
Does þau mean "they" for any group of people?
Þau is the neuter plural form of "they". You use it when a group includes a mix of males and females, or if you don't know their genders. If the group were entirely male, you would use þeir, and for an all-female group, þær.
Why does alltaf come after the verb, unlike in English where we say "always play"?
In Icelandic, the main verb almost always insists on being the second element in a sentence. Since the subject Þau takes the first spot, the verb spila must take the second spot. Adverbs like alltaf (always) then follow the verb.
Why use inni for "inside" instead of inn?
Icelandic uses different words for locations depending on whether there is movement. Inni is used for a stationary location, meaning they are already inside while playing. If they were moving from the outside to the inside, you would use the movement word inn.

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