Breakdown of Svo færum við peðið þrjá reiti.
við
we
þrír
three
svo
then / so (therefore)
færa
to move (shift, move an object)
Questions & Answers about Svo færum við peðið þrjá reiti.
Why is the verb færum before the subject við?
Because Icelandic has a strict verb-second (V2) rule. When you start a sentence with a sequence connector like Svo (Then), it takes up the first position. The verb færum must come second, which pushes the subject við to the third position right after it.
Could I use síðan instead of svo in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely. Both svo and síðan mean "then" when describing a sequence of events. Svo is very common in everyday speech, while síðan can sound slightly more formal or precise, but they are perfectly interchangeable here.
Why is the number three written as þrjá here instead of the default þrjú?
Numbers from 1 to 4 change their form to match the noun they count. The noun reiti (squares) is masculine, plural, and in the accusative case, so the number must be the masculine accusative plural form, which is þrjá.
Why are the words þrjá reiti in the accusative case? Are they the direct object?
The direct object is actually peðið (the pawn), which is in the accusative because it is the thing being moved. The phrase þrjá reiti is also in the accusative, but it acts as a measurement. In Icelandic, distances or amounts (like moving "three squares") use the accusative case.