Questions & Answers about Við hittumst oft og faðmumst.
Why do both verbs end in -st here (hittumst, faðmumst)?
The -st ending is used to form the middle voice. In this sentence, it creates a reciprocal meaning, which is just a way of saying doing something to "each other." Instead of meeting or hugging a separate person, við hittumst means "we meet each other," and við faðmumst means "we hug each other."
What happens if I use the base verbs and say Við hittum oft og faðmum?
It would sound incomplete. The base verbs hitta (to meet) and faðma (to hug) require an object. An Icelander would be waiting to hear who you are meeting and hugging. By adding the -st ending, the "each other" is built right into the verb itself, so you don't need to add a separate object.
How is the -st ending added to verbs for the við (we) form?
It is very straightforward! You just take the normal við form of the verb, which ends in -um, and stick -st directly onto the end. So, hittum becomes hittumst, and faðmum becomes faðmumst.
Why does the word oft (often) come after the verb?