Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Við förum í apótekið eftir klukkustund, annars verður of seint. - We go to the pharmacy after an hour, otherwise it will be too late.

förum is present tense, 1st person plural of fara (to go).
Icelandic commonly uses the present tense to talk about the near future, especially when a time expression is present (here: eftir klukkustund “in an hour”).
Rough English equivalents: “we go,” “we’re going,” or “we will go (soon).”
Present of fara:
- ég fer
- þú ferð
- hann/hún/það fer
- við förum
- þið farið
- þeir/þær/þau fara

Could I say "Við munum fara" instead of "Við förum"?

Yes: Við munum fara í apótekið eftir klukkustund is also fine.
munu
- infinitive is a straightforward “will” future. It can sound a bit more neutral or predictive.
In everyday speech, the simple present with a time phrase (Við förum...) is very natural.

Why is it "í apótekið" and not "í apóteki"?

The preposition í takes:
- accusative for motion/destination (into/onto): í apótekið = “to/into the pharmacy.”
- dative for location (in/on): í apótekinu = “in the pharmacy.”
Here we’re going somewhere (motion), so accusative is required.

When would I use "í apótekinu"?

Í apótekinu (dative) is for being/remaining at a location:
- Við erum í apótekinu. = “We are in the pharmacy.”
- Hún vinnur í apótekinu. = “She works at the pharmacy.”

What is the -ið in "apótekið," and why the definite form?

-ið is the suffixed definite article for neuter nouns in the nominative/accusative singular: apótek → apótekið (“the pharmacy”).
Use the definite when a specific, contextually known place is meant (like “the pharmacy” you usually go to). This mirrors English usage with places like “the store,” “the bank.”
Forms you’ll see:
- Indefinite: apótek (nom/acc), apóteki (dat)
- Definite: apótekið (nom/acc), apótekinu (dat)

Could I say "í apótek" (without the definite article)?

Grammatically possible (neuter acc sg = apótek), but pragmatically rare; it would mean “into a pharmacy (any one).”
Most of the time you go to a particular pharmacy, so í apótekið is the natural choice.

Why does "eftir klukkustund" mean “in an hour” rather than literally “after an hour”?

In time expressions referring to the future, eftir commonly corresponds to English “in”:
- eftir klukkustund = “in an hour.”
It can still mean “after,” but context decides:
- Eftir kvöldmat förum við út. = “After dinner we go out.”

Which case does "klukkustund" take after "eftir," and do I need "eina"?

For a duration into the future, eftir takes the accusative: (eftir) klukkustund.
The numeral eina (accusative of “one”) is optional:
- eftir klukkustund and eftir eina klukkustund both mean “in one hour,” with eina adding clarity/emphasis.

Can I use "klukkutími" instead of "klukkustund"?

Yes. Eftir klukkutíma is fully natural and means the same as eftir klukkustund.
Both are standard for “an hour” as a 60-minute period.

What does "annars" mean here, and is the comma correct?

annars means “otherwise” or “or else,” introducing a consequence if the first clause doesn’t happen.
The comma before annars is normal in Icelandic to separate main clauses. A semicolon could also be used, but a comma is common and fine.

Why is the verb placed right after "annars" (annars verður...)?

Icelandic main clauses follow a broadly V2 (verb-second) pattern.
When an adverb like annars starts the clause, it takes first position and the finite verb follows in second position:
- Annars verður of seint.

Why is there no "það" (it) in "annars verður of seint"? Can I add it?

It’s an impersonal expression: “otherwise it will be too late.”
The expletive það is optional:
- Annars verður of seint.
- Annars verður það of seint. Both are correct; without það is slightly leaner.

What does "verður of seint" literally mean?

verður = “becomes/is going to be” (present of verða, used for future meaning).
of = “too” (as in “too much/too late”).
seint = “late” (adverb).
So it literally means “(it) becomes too late,” i.e., “it will be too late.”
Present of verða (for reference):
- ég verð, þú verður, hann/hún/það verður, við verðum, þið verðið, þeir/þær/þau verða

Why "seint" and not "seinn"?

seint is the adverb “late” (modifies a verb/whole clause): Ég kem seint = “I arrive late.”
seinn/sein/seint is the adjective “late” (describes a noun/person): Ég er seinn/sein = “I am late.”
Here we’re saying the situation will be late, so the adverb seint fits.

Can I move the time phrase, or does it have to stay after the place?

You can move it. All are acceptable (punctuation aside):
- Við förum í apótekið eftir klukkustund, ...
- Eftir klukkustund förum við í apótekið, ... (time phrase first; verb still in second position)
- Við förum eftir klukkustund í apótekið, ...
Keep V2 word order in the main clause.

Should it be "í apótekið" or "á apótekið"?

For a pharmacy, í apótekið is the normal choice (going inside a building).
á is used with many places/events (e.g., á skrifstofuna “to the office,” á tónleika “to a concert”), but for pharmacies, í is standard.

Is "til apóteksins" a valid way to say “to the pharmacy”?

Not in this everyday “go to a building to do something” sense. til
- genitive is used for direction to people/places in a more abstract or geographical sense (e.g., til Reykjavíkur), or “to someone’s place,” not typically for entering shops/buildings.
Use í apótekið to mean “to (into) the pharmacy.”

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky letters here?

ð (as in við, apótekið) is the voiced dental fricative, like the th in “this.”
The final -ið in apótekið has a light, quick -ið; the ð is often quite soft.