Ef skýjin safnast, þá tek ég regnhlífina.

If the clouds gather, then I take the umbrella.

Breakdown of Ef skýjin safnast, þá tek ég regnhlífina.

• ég: I
• taka: to take
• ef: if
• þá: then
• skýið: the cloud
• regnhlífin: the umbrella
• safnast: to gather

Questions & Answers about Ef skýjin safnast, þá tek ég regnhlífina.

What function does ef serve in this sentence?

ef is the conditional conjunction “if.” It introduces a subordinate clause that states the condition under which the action in the main clause happens.

Why is there a comma after safnast?

In Icelandic, you generally separate a subordinate clause (the “if” part) from the main clause with a comma. Here, “Ef skýjin safnast” is the subordinate (conditional) clause, so it’s followed by a comma before the main clause.

What is the role of þá here? Is it mandatory?

þá means “then” and makes the time-sequence explicit (“if … then …”). It is not strictly mandatory—“Ef skýjin safnast tek ég regnhlífina” is also correct—but adding þá improves clarity and mirrors the English “if … then …” structure.

Why is the verb safnast used instead of safna?

safnast is the middle-voice (intransitive) form of safna.

• safna (active/transitive) means “to gather something.”
• safnast (middle/intransitive) means “to gather” intransitively, “to come together.”
  Since the clouds are gathering by themselves, you use safnast.

What case and form is skýjin, and why is it used here?

skýjin is the definite plural nominative of ský (“cloud”).

• Plural of ský is ský (indefinite), and the definite plural is skýin or skýjin.
• It’s nominative because the clouds are the subject of safnast.

What case is regnhlífina, and why do we use that form?

regnhlífina is the definite singular accusative of regnhlíf (“umbrella”).

• It’s accusative because it’s the direct object of tek (“take”).
• It’s definite (the “-ina” ending) to indicate “the umbrella” rather than “an umbrella.”

Could I say tek regnhlíf instead of tek regnhlífina?

Yes, tek regnhlíf (indefinite) means “take an umbrella.” Using the definite form regnhlífina implies you’re referring to a specific umbrella (often “my umbrella” or the one you know about).

Why is the word order þá tek ég instead of ég tek?

Icelandic main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule.

• After fronting an element like þá, the finite verb must come next, then the subject.
• If you omit þá, you could say ég tek regnhlífina, putting the subject first.

Can the word order change, for example putting safnast later?

Within the subordinate clause introduced by ef, the normal order is subject–verb–(other elements), so Ef skýjin safnast is standard. Moving safnast later (e.g. Ef skýin þá safnast) would break the V2/subordinate-clause rules and sound incorrect.

Is there a difference between skýin and skýjin?

Both are accepted for the definite plural of ský, but:

• skýin is the more common literary form.
• skýjin appears in some dialects or conservative spelling.
  In everyday writing, you’ll usually see skýin.