Getting Permission: "Fá að"
When you want to express that someone "gets to" do something or is allowed to do it, Icelandic uses the verb fá (to get/receive) followed by að and an infinitive verb.
To use this pattern, you must first conjugate fá to match the subject:
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| ég | fæ |
| þú | færð |
| hún/hann/það | fær |
| við | fáum |
| þið | fáið |
| þau | fá |
| This is her day off and she gets to choose the dessert. | Þetta er frídagurinn hennar og hún fær að velja eftirréttinn. |
| This day is our day off and we get to eat the candy. | Þessi dagur er frídagurinn okkar og við fáum að borða sælgætið. |
Asking for Permission
To ask if someone is allowed to do something, simply invert the subject and the conjugated verb fá, just like you would with other Icelandic verbs.
| Do they get to have the party at Grandma's in the summer cottage? | Fá þau að hafa partíið hjá ömmu í sumarbústaðnum? |
| What is your curfew, and do you get to stay up over the weekend? | Hver er útivistartíminn þinn, og færð þú að vaka um helgina? |
Denying Permission
To state that someone is not allowed to do something, place the negation word ekki (or another adverb like aldrei, meaning never) after the conjugated verb and its subject, but before að.
| This computer game is fun, but the boy does not get to stay up longer. | Þessi tölvuleikur er skemmtilegur, en strákurinn fær ekki að vaka lengur. |
| I never get to be outside after the curfew starts. | Ég fæ aldrei að vera úti eftir að útivistartíminn byrjar. |
Bargaining and Conditions
This grammar pattern is incredibly common when negotiating house rules, treats, or shifts at work. You will frequently see it paired with conditional words to express what must happen before someone gets a privilege.
| We get to go on the drive if we finish both the food and the dessert. | Við fáum að fara í bíltúrinn ef við klárum bæði matinn og eftirréttinn. |
| Either she works the extra shift or she does not get to attend the party. | Annaðhvort vinnur hún aukavaktina eða hún fær ekki að mæta í partíið. |