Question 1

Since this lesson is about possessive focus, how would I change this to say "arguing about OUR credit", and where would the possessive go?

Accepted Answer

You would normally add okkar after the noun with its definite article: Við vorum að rífast um heiðurinn okkar (neutral). If you wanted to heavily emphasize that it was OUR credit and not someone else's, you would put it before the noun without the article: Við vorum að rífast um okkar heiður.

Question 2

Why does the verb rífast end in -st, and what does it literally mean?

Accepted Answer

This is the middle voice form of rífa (to tear). The -st ending here gives it a reciprocal meaning, meaning the subjects are doing the action to each other. So rífast literally translates to "to tear at each other," which creates a vivid picture for arguing or bickering.

Question 3

Is heiðurinn in the accusative case here because of the preposition um?

Accepted Answer

Exactly. When the preposition um means "about" or "concerning," it always triggers the accusative case. For the masculine noun heiður, the accusative form is identical to the nominative, so with the attached definite article it simply becomes heiðurinn.

Question 4

Would it be wrong to just use the simple past and say "Við rifumst um heiðurinn"?

Accepted Answer

It wouldn't be wrong, but it changes the nuance. Við rifumst just states the factual completed action: "We argued." Using the continuous structure vorum að rífast specifically emphasizes that the action was ongoing in that moment: "We were arguing."

Við vorum að rífast um heiðurinn.

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