Ef sólin skín, þá förum við á ströndina.

we

Breakdown of Ef sólin skín, þá förum við á ströndina.

• fara: to go
• á: to
• ef: if

Questions & Answers about Ef sólin skín, þá förum við á ströndina.

What does Ef mean and how is it used?

Ef is the Icelandic conjunction meaning if. It introduces a conditional subordinate clause (the “if” part of an “if … then …” sentence).

Why is þá used in the main clause, and can it be omitted?

Þá corresponds to English then, marking the result clause. It’s not strictly mandatory—without þá the sentence remains grammatically correct—but it makes the connection between the condition and the outcome clearer.

Why does the verb förum come before the subject við?

Icelandic main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule: the finite verb must occupy the second position. Here þá is the first element, so förum (the verb “go”) comes next, and then the subject við (“we”).

Which case is ströndina in, and why?

Ströndina is the definite accusative form of ströndin. The accusative case indicates motion toward a place (“to the beach”), and the definite form (the –ina ending) means the beach rather than any beach.

Which case does the preposition á govern here?