Breakdown of Bíllinn skemmdist þegar ég keyrði heim.
bíllinn
the car
ég
I
heim
home
keyra
to drive
þegar
when
skemmast
to get damaged
Questions & Answers about Bíllinn skemmdist þegar ég keyrði heim.
Why do we use skemmdist here instead of saying the car was damaged with a helping verb?
The verb skemmdist is the middle voice form of skemma (to damage). By adding the -st ending, it takes on a spontaneous meaning, translating perfectly to got damaged. Icelandic frequently uses -st verbs for accidents or sudden changes where the focus is on the event happening, rather than who or what caused it.
How exactly do you build the past tense form skemmdist?
You start with the regular third-person past tense of the active verb. The active verb is skemma, and in the past tense for it, that is skemmdi (it damaged). You simply attach the -st ending to get skemmdist (it got damaged).
I keep mixing up heim and heima. Why is it heim in this sentence?
You use heim because there is active motion towards a destination, which is driving homewards. You only use heima when there is no movement, indicating a stationary location (being at home).
Why is the word for when þegar instead of hvenær?
Þegar is a linking word used to connect two statements, meaning at the time that. You only use hvenær as a question word, like if you were asking a direct question: When did you drive home?
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