Abstract Possession with "hafa"
In Icelandic, how you say "to have" depends on what you have. For physical objects, use eiga (to own). For abstract concepts you cannot touch—like time, interest, or patience—use the irregular verb hafa.
As with eiga, the object of hafa takes the accusative case. Here is its present tense conjugation:
| Pronoun | Verb |
|---|---|
| ég | hef |
| þú | hefur |
| hann / hún / það | hefur |
| við | höfum |
| þið | hafið |
| þeir / þær / þau | hafa |
Notice the direct contrast between physical ownership (eiga) and abstract possession (hafa):
| She owns a car, but she does not have space. | Hún á bíl en hún hefur ekki pláss. |
Use hafa for abstract concepts like time, interest, and opportunities:
| I have time, but I do not have interest. | Ég hef tíma en ég hef ekki áhuga. |
| The teacher has experience and patience. | Kennarinn hefur reynslu og þolinmæði. |
| You have an opportunity, but you do not have a choice. | Þú hefur tækifæri en þú hefur ekki val. |
To ask a question, invert the subject and verb:
| Do you have time or interest? | Hafið þið tíma eða áhuga? |
| I have a problem and I know the reason. | Ég hef vandamál og ég veit ástæðuna. |
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