Completed Actions with "vera búinn að"
To say that you have already done something, conversational Icelandic uses vera búinn að followed by an infinitive verb. It literally means "to be finished to [do something]."
Agreeing with the Subject
Because búinn acts as an adjective, its ending changes to agree with the subject's gender and number. The verb vera (to be) is conjugated normally.
Here is how búinn changes:
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | búinn | búnir |
| Feminine | búin | búnar |
| Neuter | búið | búin |
| I have emptied the fridge. | Ég er búinn að tæma ísskápinn. |
| She has bathed the dog and watered the flower. | Hún er búin að baða hundinn og vökva blómið. |
| They are done packing the shoes before they leave. | Þeir eru búnir að pakka skónum áður en þeir fara. |
For mixed-gender groups, use the neuter plural form (búin).
| We are finished cleaning the fridge. | Við erum búin að þrífa ísskápinn. |
Questions and Negation
To ask a question, swap the subject and the verb vera.
| Have you booked the flight? | Ert þú búinn að bóka flugið? |
| Are the girls done packing the clothes? | Eru stelpurnar búnar að pakka fötunum? |
Place ekki (not) right after the conjugated form of vera to make a sentence negative.
| The man has not emptied the washing machine. | Maðurinn er ekki búinn að tæma þvottavélina. |
| They have not booked the hotel for the trip. | Þær eru ekki búnar að bóka hótelið fyrir ferðina. |
Contrasting with the Present Tense
Vera búinn að is specifically for completed actions. For general routines or ongoing actions, use the simple present tense.
| He bathes the dog and waters the flower on Mondays. | Hann baðar hundinn og vökvar blómið á mánudögum. |
| I always send the article early. | Ég sendi alltaf greinina snemma. |
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