Questions & Answers about Sjáið þið þau?
Why is "them" translated as þau here?
Þau is the accusative neuter plural pronoun. In Icelandic, the word for "them" changes depending on the gender of the group. You use þau when referring to a group of neuter nouns, or a mixed-gender group of people or things. The verb sjá (to see) requires the object being seen to be in the accusative case, which for this gender happens to be exactly the same as the dictionary form þau.
Why does the sentence start with the verb Sjáið?
To make a yes/no question in Icelandic, you swap the subject and the verb. The normal statement would be Þið sjáið þau (You see them), so the question becomes Sjáið þið þau? (Do you see them?).
What is the difference between þið and þú?
Þið is the plural "you" (like "you all" or "y'all"). You use it when you are talking directly to more than one person. If you were asking just one person if they see them, you would use the singular þú and say Sérð þú þau?.
Why does the verb sjá become sjáið?
In Icelandic, verbs change their endings based on who is doing the action. Whenever the subject is the plural þið (you all), the verb in the present tense almost always takes an -ið ending.
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