Breakdown of Þú gætir hafa komið í veg fyrir skaðann.
þú
you
hafa
to have
geta
to be able to
koma í veg fyrir
to prevent
skaðinn
the damage
Questions & Answers about Þú gætir hafa komið í veg fyrir skaðann.
Why do we use gætir hafa komið instead of just gætir komið?
Gætir komið means 'could prevent' (a present or future possibility). Because this lesson focuses on past hypothetical possibilities ('could have prevented'), we must add the infinitive hafa followed by the supine form of the main verb, giving us gætir hafa komið.
Could I also say Þú hefðir getað komið í veg fyrir skaðann?
Yes! Hefðir getað komið (past subjunctive of hafa + supine of geta + supine of koma) is very common and means exactly the same thing. Gætir hafa komið is just another standard way to build this structure. Both are perfectly interchangeable for expressing 'could have done' in the past.
How does the phrase koma í veg fyrir literally translate to 'prevent'?
Literally, it means 'come in [the] way for' or 'get in the way of'. You are placing an obstacle in the path of an event. The thing being prevented follows the preposition fyrir, which always takes the accusative case in this specific idiom. That is why we see the accusative form skaðann (the damage) instead of the nominative skaðinn.
Why is it í veg instead of í veginn (in the way)?
Fixed expressions and idioms in Icelandic often use the bare, indefinite form of a noun where English might use a definite article. The phrase is always koma í veg fyrir, never koma í veginn fyrir. Also note that í takes the accusative here (veg instead of the dative vegi) because the verb koma implies moving into a position.
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