Breakdown of Við höfum farið í fræga skoðunarferð.
við
we
fara
to go
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
hafa
to have
skoðunarferðin
the sightseeing tour
frægur
famous
Questions & Answers about Við höfum farið í fræga skoðunarferð.
Why does the verb fara become farið in this sentence?
Farið is the supine (sagnbót) of the strong verb fara (to go). Strong verbs do not use regular past tense endings like -aði or -ti. Instead, their supine form usually ends in -ið. You combine it with the helper verb hafa (here, höfum) to say you have done something.
The English translation says we "have been" on a tour, so why does the Icelandic use the verb for "go" (fara)?
In English, we often say we "have been" to a place or on a trip. In Icelandic, it is much more natural to use fara (to go) for trips and activities. Translating "have been" literally with the verb vera (to be) would sound like you were just existing inside a journey, rather than actively taking a tour!
Why is fræga skoðunarferð in the accusative case here instead of the dative?
The preposition í can take either the accusative or dative case. Because the verb fara (to go) shows movement or entering into a new state or activity, í triggers the accusative case here for the feminine words fræg and skoðunarferð.
How is the long word skoðunarferð put together?
It is a compound word made from skoðun (viewing or inspection) and ferð (trip or journey). The -ar in the middle is the genitive (possessive) ending of skoðun, so it literally translates to a "trip of viewing".
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