Questions & Answers about Höfum við leyfi og pláss?
Why do we use höfum here instead of erum með?
In Icelandic, the verb hafa is primarily used for abstract possession—things you cannot physically hold in your hands, like leyfi (permission) or pláss (space). For physical objects you carry around, you would typically use vera með (to be with).
How does the verb hafa change to match við (we)?
Hafa is an irregular verb. When paired with the pronoun við (we), it becomes höfum. Notice how the root vowel changes from an 'a' to an 'ö' for the 'we' form.
Why does the sentence start with the verb höfum?
To ask a yes/no question in Icelandic, you simply swap the order of the subject and the verb. Instead of saying Við höfum... (We have...), you put the verb first to get Höfum við...? (Do we have...?). You do not add a helper word like 'do' as we do in English.
Are the words leyfi and pláss in a special grammatical case here because of höfum?
Yes, the verb hafa always forces the things being possessed into the accusative case. However, leyfi and pláss are both neuter words, and a handy rule for beginners is that neuter words always look exactly the same in the accusative case as they do in their basic dictionary form.