The Future with verða
In English, we use "will be" to talk about the future. In Icelandic, the verb vera (to be) is mostly kept for ongoing states. To predict a future state, condition, or feeling, use the verb verða (to become / will be).
| The braces will be ready when I arrive at the dental clinic. | Spöngin verður tilbúin þegar ég kem á tannlæknastofuna. |
| The braces will be uncomfortable at first. | Spöngin verður óþægileg fyrst. |
Notice that verða acts just like vera, linking the subject to an adjective. The adjective still agrees with the subject's gender and number (like the feminine óþægileg for spöngin).
Predicting Pain and Feelings
When predicting how you will feel physically, verða handles "quirky subjects" just like present-tense verbs of experience. If a feeling requires a dative pronoun (like þér for experiencing pain), the verb locks into the impersonal third-person singular form (verður).
| Will your jaw hurt? | Verður þér illt í kjálkanum? |
For standard nominative subjects, the verb simply matches the noun.
| The jaw will become stiff, but it does not last long. | Kjálkinn verður stífur en það varir ekki lengi. |
Becoming and Changing States
Because verða fundamentally means "to become," it pairs perfectly with conjunctions like þegar (when) and um leið og (as soon as) to describe an upcoming shift from one state to another.
| The pressure will become great as soon as the dentist tightens the wire. | Þrýstingurinn verður mikill um leið og tannlæknirinn herðir vírinn. |
When talking about multiple things changing at once, remember to use the plural form verða (they will be) instead of the singular verður.
| The teeth will become straight and the smile will be perfect. | Tennurnar verða beinar og brosið verður fullkomið. |
| The teeth will be sensitive as soon as you chew the food. | Tennurnar verða viðkvæmar um leið og þú tyggur matinn. |