Introduction to Icelandic Verb Conjugations
In Icelandic, verbs change their form to show different meanings. This is called conjugation. Verbs can show who is doing the action, when the action is happening, and whether the action is complete.
The present tense is used to talk about things that are happening right now or things that happen regularly.
Important Points
- To conjugate a verb in the present tense, you start with the base form of the verb.
- Add endings to the base form to match the subject (the person or thing doing the action).
Examples
- Ég elska (I love)
- Þú elskar (You love)
- Hann elskar (He loves)
The past tense is used to talk about things that have already happened.
Important Points
- To conjugate a verb in the past tense, you often change the ending of the verb.
- Some verbs are regular and follow a pattern, while others are irregular and do not.
Examples
- Ég elskaði (I loved)
- Þú elskaðir (You loved)
- Hún elskaði (She loved)
The future tense is used to talk about things that will happen.
Important Points
- Icelandic often uses the verb 'munu' to help form the future tense.
- You combine 'munu' with the base form of the main verb.
Examples
- Ég mun elska (I will love)
- Þú munt elska (You will love)
- Við munum elska (We will love)
Important Things to Remember