Breakdown of Ef hann færi í fortíðina, myndi hann skapa þverstæðu.
hann
he
fara
to go
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
ef
if
fortíðin
the past
skapa
to create
myndi
would (singular)
þverstæðan
the paradox
Questions & Answers about Ef hann færi í fortíðina, myndi hann skapa þverstæðu.
Why do we use færi here instead of the regular past tense fór?
Because this is a hypothetical situation (something that isn't real). In Icelandic, when you use ef (if) to talk about an imagined scenario, the verb in the if-clause changes to the past subjunctive. færi is the past subjunctive form of fara (to go) for hann.
Why is the word order myndi hann and not hann myndi in the second half?
Why is skapa in the infinitive instead of a subjunctive form?
In the main clause of a hypothetical sentence, the helper verb myndi (would) takes on the past subjunctive form. Just like in English where 'would' is followed by a base verb ('would create'), myndi is followed by the infinitive skapa.
Why is fortíðina in the accusative case here? Doesn't the preposition í sometimes trigger the dative?
The preposition í takes the accusative case when it describes movement or direction into something, and the dative case when describing a static location. Since he is going into the past (fara í), it implies motion and requires the accusative.
Learn Ef hann færi í fortíðina, myndi hann skapa þverstæðu and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free