neikvæðum

Neikvæðum is the dative plural form of the Icelandic adjective neikvæður, meaning negative. In Icelandic, adjectives decline for gender, number, and case, and the dative plural form for many adjectives is -um, resulting in neikvæðum when describing plural nouns in the dative case. This form appears in contexts where the modified noun is plural and the phrase is governed by a preposition or a grammatical construction that requires the dative.

The usage of neikvæðum is common in both everyday language and more formal or academic writing, especially when discussing negative aspects, effects, or conditions. For example, phrases such as á neikvæðum áhrifum (on negative effects) or í neikvæðum aðstæðum (in adverse circumstances) illustrate its function. It can modify a variety of plural nouns, depending on the context, including nouns related to outcomes, opinions, or situations.

Etymology and grammar notes: neikvæður is the base form meaning negative, and neikvæðum is the standard dative plural ending that aligns with the noun it modifies in dative plural. The form is one of several inflected endings Icelandic adjectives use to reflect case and number, and it commonly appears before plural nouns in dative constructions, as well as after certain prepositions that require the dative.

Related terms in Icelandic include neikvæð, neikvæðni (negativity), and neikvætt gildi (negative value). The term neikvæðum is primarily a grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical item, but it remains a frequent component in discussions of negative characteristics or outcomes in Icelandic text.