Breakdown of Þessi góða venja gefur mér mikla orku.
góður
good
mér
me (dative)
gefa
to give
þessi
this (m/f)
mikill
great, much (adjective: snjórinn er mikill)
orkan
the energy
venjan
the habit
Questions & Answers about Þessi góða venja gefur mér mikla orku.
This lesson focuses on asking "Af hverju" (Why). How would I use this sentence to answer an "Af hverju" question?
To answer a "Why" question, you usually add af því að (because) to the beginning of your statement. For example, if someone asks Af hverju gerirðu þetta? (Why do you do this?), you can reply: Af því að þessi góða venja gefur mér mikla orku.
Why do we use góða instead of góð for "good" in this sentence?
Because of the word þessi (this). When an adjective comes after a pointing word (a demonstrative pronoun) like þessi, it must use its "weak" declension. For a feminine singular noun like venja (habit) in the nominative case, the weak form of góð is góða.
Why is the word for "me" written as mér here?
The verb gefa (to give) requires two objects: the person receiving the thing, and the thing itself. The person receiving it (the indirect object) always takes the dative case. Mér is the dative form of ég (I).
Why is the phrase "a lot of energy" translated as mikla orku instead of mikil orka?
This phrase is the thing being given (the direct object of gefa), so it must be in the accusative case. Orka (energy) is a feminine noun that becomes orku in the accusative, and the adjective mikill changes to mikla to match it.
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