The Impersonal Passive
When describing a bustling event like a traditional Icelandic midwinter feast (þorrablót), you often want to talk about activities that everyone is doing. Instead of saying "People sing" or "We are working," Icelandic frequently uses a structure called the impersonal passive.
This construction literally translates to "It is sung" or "There is worked," but it is the most natural, everyday way to express that a collective action is taking place.
To form the impersonal passive, combine three elements:
- The dummy pronoun það (it / there)
- The copula verb vera (to be), typically in the present tense er (is)
- The past participle of the main verb in its neuter singular form (often ending in -ð or -t, such as sungið or unnið)
| People sing a lot at a traditional midwinter feast. | Það er mikið sungið á hefðbundnu þorrablóti. |
| The preparation starts early and people work in the banquet hall. | Undirbúningurinn byrjar snemma og það er unnið í veislusalnum. |
Focusing on the Action
This structure is heavily used with intransitive verbs—verbs that do not take a direct object in the sentence. Actions like laughing, dancing, eating, and drinking generally fit perfectly here.
By removing a specific subject like "he," "she," or "they," the impersonal passive puts the spotlight entirely on the festival's atmosphere and the activity itself. Notice how verbs like hlæja (to laugh) become hlegið, dansa (to dance) becomes dansað, and borða (to eat) becomes borðað.
| The entertainment act is the highlight and people laugh a lot. | Skemmtiatriðið er hápunkturinn og það er mikið hlegið. |
| People dance for a long time at the country dance in the banquet hall. | Það er dansað lengi á sveitaballinu í veislusalnum. |
| People eat well when traditional blood pudding is on the table. | Það er borðað vel þegar hefðbundið slátur er á borðinu. |