Question 1

Why is hafi used here instead of the indicative hef?

Accepted Answer

The verb hafa is in the subjunctive mood (hafi) because it follows a superlative adjective (ótrúlegustu) describing a subjective experience. When you make an extreme subjective claim like the most incredible thing you have experienced, Icelandic uses the subjunctive in the relative clause to reflect that this is your personal perspective rather than an absolute, objective fact.

Question 2

Why does the sentence begin with the plural þetta eru when the English translation says 'This is'?

Accepted Answer

When pointing something out using the dummy pronoun þetta, the pronoun itself stays in the neuter singular, but the verb must agree with the number of the noun that follows. Because tökurnar is plural, the verb must be the plural eru.

Question 3

Why is tökurnar in the plural form when the English translation is the singular 'shoot'?

Accepted Answer

The noun taka literally means a take, as in filming a single scene. When referring to an entire film or photography shoot, Icelandic generally uses the plural definite form tökurnar (the takes), whereas English uses a singular collective noun.

Question 4

Why does the superlative adjective ótrúlegustu end in -u here?

Accepted Answer

It is in the weak declension because it modifies a definite noun, since tökurnar has the attached definite article. When an adjective pairs with a definite noun, it must take the weak ending, which is -u for the nominative plural.

Þetta eru ótrúlegustu tökurnar sem ég hafi upplifað.

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