Breakdown of Mamma þarf að svara þeim.
að
to (infinitive marker)
mamman
the mom (informal)
þurfa
to need
svara
to answer
þeim
them (dative)
Questions & Answers about Mamma þarf að svara þeim.
Why is the word for them translated as þeim here?
The verb svara (to answer) requires the person receiving the answer to be in the dative case. þeim is the dative plural form of the pronoun.
If the group of people being answered are all women, would we still use þeim?
Yes! In the dative case, plural pronouns do not change for gender. Whether you are answering a group of men, a group of women, or a mixed group, the word is always þeim.
Why is there an að between þarf and svara?
The word að acts like the English word 'to' in 'to answer'. The verb þurfa (to need) must be followed by að and the infinitive (dictionary form) of the action being done.
Why does þarf look so different from its dictionary form?
The verb þurfa (to need) is highly irregular. For singular subjects like I, you, or Mom, the 'u' changes to an 'a', making it þarf.
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