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The past subjunctive (*viðtengingarháttur þátíðar*) is used for hypothetical situations ("if X, then Y") and polite requests. In hypotheticals, both the condition ("if" clause) and the result use the past subjunctive.

For many weak verbs, the past subjunctive is identical to the regular past tense (like **smíðaði** and **virkaði**).

However, many verbs undergo a vowel shift (i-mutation) in this mood. Singular endings are typically **-i** (*ég*, *hann/hún/það*) and **-ir** (*þú*). For example, the **a** in **hafa** (to have) becomes **e** (**hefði**):

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### Polite Requests

The past subjunctive is essential for polite questions. The verbs **mega** (may) and **geta** (can) shift to **mætti** and **gæti**. (Note that **gætir þú** is frequently contracted to **gætirðu**).

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### Common Vowel Shifts

Here are common vowel changes used to form the past subjunctive:

- **a** becomes **e**: *að segja* (to say) → **segði**
- **á** becomes **æ**: *að eiga* (to have/own) → **ætti**
- **u** becomes **y**: *að þurfa* (to need) → **þyrfti**
- **ú** becomes **y**: *að trúa* (to believe) → **tryði**

Notice how these shifted verbs appear alongside regular weak verbs (like **gerði** and **reyndi**) in the following hypotheticals. For plural subjects, the subjunctive verb takes the ending **-u** (**tryðu**).

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The past subjunctive for weak verbs

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Presentative and the definite suffix (þetta er, -inn, -in, -ið)

Singular pronouns and to be (ég er, þú ert)

Singular adjective agreement

Yes/no questions (ert þú…?)

Basic negation (ekki)

Plural pronouns and to be (við erum, þeir eru)

Group 1 weak verbs (-ar)

Group 2 and 3 verbs (-ir, -ur)

Information questions (hvað, hver, hvar)

Expressing opinions (mér finnst, mér líkar)

Expressing desires (mig langar)

Numbers 1 to 10 (einn, tveir, þrír)

Direct objects on indefinite nouns

Direct objects on definite nouns

Singular object pronouns (mig, þig...)

Plural object pronouns (okkur, ykkur...)

Directional prepositions (um, í, á)

Verb-second word order

Expressing intentions (ætla að)

Needs and wants (þurfa, vilja)

Middle voice verbs (-st)

Possessive pronouns (minn, þinn)

Dative case with prepositions (í, á, frá)

Definite dative nouns (-num, -nni, -nu)

Dative personal pronouns (honum, henni, þeim)

Plural nouns (-ar, -ir, -ur)

Definite plural nouns (-nir, -nar, -in)

Accusative plural nouns

Number agreement 1 to 4 (einn, tveir…)

Singular commands

Past tense of the verb to be (var, vorum)

Present continuous (vera að)

Strong verbs in the present tense

Weather and dummy subjects (það)

Invariable possessive pronouns (hans, hennar, þeirra)

Accusative possessives (minn, þinn)

Accompaniment (með)

Dative plural (-um, -unum)

Compound sentences (og, en, eða)

"This" in the nominative (þessi, þessi, þetta)

"This" in the accusative (þennan, þessa, þetta)

Accusative adjectives (-an, -a, -t)

Numbers 1 to 4 in the accusative (einn, tvo, þrjá)

Third-person reflexive pronouns (sig, sér)

The preposition "to" with the genitive (til)

Subordinating conjunctions (að, af því að)

Simple past of weak verbs (-aði)

Question words (hvernig, hvaða)

Physical possession (vera með)

Abstract possession (hafa)

Telling time (hálf, korter)

Plural commands (-ið)

The simple past tense (-di, -ti, -ði)

Possessive noun endings (-s, -ar)

Days of the week (á mánudaginn, á mánudögum)

Kveðjur — greetings (halló, bless)

Um mig — where I am from

Kurteisi — please, sorry, congratulations

Ability and knowing how (kunna að)

Permission (mega)

Obligation (eiga að)

Plural strong verbs

Numbers 11 to 20 (ellefu, tólf...)

Counting by tens to 100 (þrjátíu, fjörutíu...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (fyrsti, annar...)

All / everything / everyone (allur)

The indefinite pronoun someone (einhver)

The indefinite pronoun no one (enginn)

Compound numbers from 21 (tuttugu og)

This in the dative singular (þessum, þessari, þessu)

These in the dative plural (þessum)

My and your in the dative (mínum, þínum)

Numbers 1 to 4 in the dative (einum, tveimur)

Adjectives in the dative singular (-um, -ri, -u)

Adjectives in the dative plural (-um)

Reflexive possessive in the accusative (sinn, sína, sitt)

Reflexive possessive in the dative (sínum, sinni)

Reflexive versus regular possessives (sinn, hans)

Demonstrative plural (þessir, þessar, þessi)

Definite genitive singular (-sins, -arinnar)

Indefinite genitive plural (-a)

Definite genitive plural (-anna)

Genitive prepositions (án, milli, vegna)

Prepositions of direction (yfir, undir, fyrir)

Prepositions of static location (yfir, undir, fyrir)

Question	Answer
the genius	snillingurinn
the invention	uppfinningin
If the genius had the idea, he would build the invention.	Ef snillingurinn hefði hugmyndina, smíðaði hann uppfinninguna.
the laboratory	rannsóknarstofan
May I see the invention in the laboratory?	Mætti ég sjá uppfinninguna á rannsóknarstofunni?
the glider	svifflugan
I want to test the glider tomorrow.	Mig langar að prófa sviffluguna á morgun.
the motor	mótorinn
If the glider had a motor, it would work better.	Ef svifflugan hefði mótor, virkaði hún betur.
Could you fix the motor for me?	Gætirðu lagað mótorinn fyrir mig?
the experiment	tilraunin
impossible	ómögulegur
The experiment was impossible many years ago.	Tilraunin var ómöguleg fyrir mörgum árum síðan.
the patent	einkaleyfið
If she did a new experiment, she would need the patent.	Ef hún gerði nýja tilraun, þyrfti hún einkaleyfið.
The boss bought the patent for the company.	Stjórinn keypti einkaleyfið fyrir fyrirtækið.
the wing	vængurinn
If the machine did not have a big wing, it would not work.	Ef vélin hefði ekki stóran væng, virkaði hún ekki.
The wing of the glider got damaged accidentally yesterday.	Vængurinn á svifflugunni skemmdist óvart í gær.
brave	hugrakkur
If the brave man had the money, he would try to fly.	Ef hugrakki maðurinn ætti peninginn, reyndi hann að fljúga.
May I ask the genius about this invention?	Mætti ég spyrja snillinginn um þessa uppfinningu?
If the teacher told the story, the students would believe him.	Ef kennarinn segði söguna, tryðu nemendurnir honum.
She always worked in the laboratory in the evenings.	Hún vann alltaf á rannsóknarstofunni á kvöldin.
The genius solved the problem that was impossible.	Snillingurinn leysti vandamálið sem var ómögulegt.
If the brave girl had the patent, she would sell it.	Ef hugrakka stúlkan hefði einkaleyfið, seldi hún það.
It is completely impossible to fly the glider in this wind.	Það er alveg ómögulegt að fljúga svifflugunni í þessum vindi.
Could you draw a new wing for the invention?	Gætirðu teiknað nýjan væng fyrir uppfinninguna?
She started the experiment ten years ago.	Hún byrjaði á tilrauninni fyrir tíu árum síðan.
The brave pilot turned on the motor yesterday.	Hugrakki flugmaðurinn kveikti á mótornum í gær.