Questions & Answers about Ég á próf á morgun.
Are the two instances of á the same word?
No.
- The first á is the 1st person singular present of the verb eiga (to have/own): Ég á = I have.
- The second á is a preposition meaning roughly “on/at” in time expressions: á morgun = tomorrow. They’re spelled the same but are different words (verb vs. preposition). The letter á is its own letter in Icelandic, pronounced like “ow” in “now.”
Why use eiga (á) rather than hafa (hef) to say “have”?
In everyday speech, eiga is the natural choice for scheduled events, obligations, and many types of possession:
- Ég á próf á morgun. = I have an exam tomorrow.
- Ég á tíma hjá lækni. = I have a doctor’s appointment.
- Ég á tvö börn. = I have two children.
Hafa exists but is less idiomatic here; it’s common in set expressions and in compound tenses (e.g., Ég hef gert = I have done). Saying Ég hef próf á morgun is understandable but sounds bookish or non-idiomatic in casual speech.
Can I say Ég er með próf á morgun?
You’ll be understood, and colloquially vera með can mark things you “have,” often temporarily or on hand (e.g., Ég er með bók = I have a book with me). For scheduled events, many speakers still prefer eiga: Ég á próf á morgun is the safest, most neutral choice. You’ll also hear Ég er með fund kl. 3 (I have a meeting at 3).