Ég fæ stundum höfuðverk.

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Breakdown of Ég fæ stundum höfuðverk.

• stundum: sometimes
• fá: to get
• höfuðverk: the headache

Questions & Answers about Ég fæ stundum höfuðverk.

Why is the verb fæ here? What’s its infinitive and typical use?

• Fæ is the 1st person singular present of the verb að fá “to get/receive.”
• With symptoms, Icelandic commonly uses fá to mean “get”: Ég fæ stundum höfuðverk = “I sometimes get a headache.”
• English often says “have a headache,” but Icelandic prefers either fá (“get”) for onset/repeated events, or vera með (“be with/have”) for a current state:
  
  • Onset: Ég er að fá höfuðverk. “I’m getting a headache.”
  • State: Ég er með höfuðverk. “I have a headache (right now).”

Why is it höfuðverk and not höfuðverkur?

• Höfuðverkur (masculine) is the nominative singular form.
• After fá, the direct object is in the accusative singular, which for this noun is höfuðverk (no -ur).
• So: nominative (subject) = höfuðverkur; accusative (object) = höfuðverk.

Where does the adverb stundum go? Can I move it?

• Default with a subject first: verb in 2nd position, then the frequency adverb: Ég fæ stundum höfuðverk.
• You can front the adverb; then the verb must still be second (V2): Stundum fæ ég höfuðverk.
• Ég stundum fæ… is ungrammatical in main clauses (violates V2).
• Ending the sentence with the adverb () is understandable but less idiomatic in neutral speech.