Question 1

Why do we use hefðum in the second clause instead of a conditional word like myndum?

Accepted Answer

Both are correct! For past counterfactuals (meaning "would have"), you can use either myndum hafa or simply the past subjunctive of hafa, which is hefðum here. Using a form of hefði in both the "if" clause and the main clause is extremely common in Icelandic and often flows more naturally.

Question 2

Why does the second clause start directly with the verb hefðum rather than the subject við?

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire "if" clause acts as the first block of information in the sentence. To keep the main verb in the second position, hefðum must come right after the comma, pushing the subject við into the third position.

Question 3

The verb biðja means "to ask". Why is okkur in the accusative case here instead of the dative?

Accepted Answer

While many verbs involving communication or giving take a dative receiver, biðja is an exception. The grammatical structure is biðja einhvern um eitthvað (to ask someone to do/for something), where the person being asked is always in the accusative case.

Question 4

Why does hruninu take the dative case in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

It is controlled by the verb afstýra (to avert, prevent, or steer away from), which always requires its object to be in the dative case. The word is hrun (collapse) with the dative neuter definite article -inu attached.

Ef ráðgjafinn hefði beðið okkur um að afstýra hruninu, hefðum við gert það.

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