Breakdown of Hvernig veist þú að hann var hér?
vera
to be
hér
here
þú
you
hann
he
hvernig
how
vita
to know (a fact, information)
að
that (conjunction)
Questions & Answers about Hvernig veist þú að hann var hér?
Why is the word order hann var (he was) if this is a question? Shouldn't the verb come first?
The actual question part of this sentence is just the first half: Hvernig veist þú (How do you know). The word að (that) connects it to a new mini-sentence (a subordinate clause). After að, we use regular statement word order (Subject + Verb), so it stays hann var, even though the whole sentence ends with a question mark.
Why does the verb veist come before the subject þú?
Because the sentence starts with a question word (hvernig). In Icelandic, the verb almost always wants to be in the second position. When a question word takes the first spot, the verb and subject swap places, making it Hvernig veist þú instead of Hvernig þú veist.
Why use veist for "know" instead of a form of þekkja?
Veist is from the verb vita, which means to know a fact or a piece of information (like knowing that he was here). You use þekkja when you are familiar with a person, place, or thing, like knowing a friend.
Could I use hingað instead of hér for "here"?
No. Hér is used for a static location, meaning someone or something is already in that place (like he was here). You only use hingað when there is movement involved, like if you were saying "He came here".
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