Questions & Answers about Takk fyrir hjálpina, annars bíðum við lengur.
What does the word annars do here, and why is it bíðum við (verb before subject)?
Annars means otherwise/else and acts as a sentence connector. Icelandic main clauses are verb‑second (V2): whatever you put first (here, annars) is followed by the finite verb, then the subject. Hence annars bíðum við. Without annars, you’d say Við bíðum lengur.
Is bíðum present tense? Does it mean will wait or would wait?
Yes—bíðum is present indicative (we wait). Icelandic often uses the present for near‑future, so here it naturally reads as we’ll wait. If you want an explicit conditional would, use myndum: annars myndum við bíða lengur. For a past hypothetical: annars hefðum við beðið lengur.
Why is hjálpina definite? Could I say hjálp or hjálpina þína?
With thanks, Icelandic usually uses a definite noun for a specific, context‑known act: hjálpina = the help (you gave). Takk fyrir hjálpina is the most idiomatic. Takk fyrir hjálp is possible but sounds less natural. Adding a possessive (hjálpina þína) is grammatical but often redundant unless you want emphasis.
What case is hjálpina in, and why?