The subjunctive mood in Icelandic, much like in other languages, can be a challenging concept for learners to grasp. However, understanding its usage is crucial for mastering the language, particularly when it comes to forming conditionals. Conditionals are sentences that express ‘if… then…’ scenarios, and the subjunctive mood often plays a key role in forming these sentences. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the subjunctive mood in Icelandic conditionals, providing comprehensive explanations and examples to help you get a better grasp of this important grammatical feature.
Understanding the Subjunctive Mood
Before diving into conditionals, it’s important to understand what the subjunctive mood is. In Icelandic, the subjunctive mood is primarily used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, and hypothetical situations. Unlike the indicative mood, which states facts or certainties, the subjunctive deals with non-reality.
In Icelandic, verbs are inflected differently in the subjunctive mood compared to the indicative. The subjunctive forms can often be recognized by their specific endings and sometimes by vowel changes within the verb stem.
Basic Structure of Icelandic Conditionals
Conditionals in Icelandic, as in English, consist of two main parts: a protasis (the ‘if’ clause) and an apodosis (the ‘then’ clause). The verb in the protasis is typically in the subjunctive mood when dealing with hypothetical or unlikely situations. The apodosis can be in the indicative or another mood depending on the context.
For example:
– Ef ég væri ríkur, myndi ég ferðast um heiminn.
– If I were rich, I would travel the world.
In this sentence:
– ‘Ef ég væri ríkur’ (If I were rich) is the protasis with the subjunctive form ‘væri.’
– ‘Myndi ég ferðast um heiminn’ (I would travel the world) is the apodosis with the conditional verb ‘myndi.’
Forms of the Subjunctive Mood in Icelandic
Icelandic verbs have distinct subjunctive forms in different tenses. Here, we’ll focus on the present and past subjunctive, as these are most commonly used in conditionals.
Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is formed by taking the infinitive of the verb and adding specific endings. For example:
– Tala (to speak) becomes:
– Ég tali (I speak)
– Þú talir (You speak)
– Hann/hún/það tali (He/she/it speaks)
– Við tölum (We speak)
– Þið talið (You all speak)
– Þeir/þær/þau tali (They speak)
Past Subjunctive
The past subjunctive often involves a vowel change in the verb stem. For example:
– Vera (to be) becomes:
– Ég væri (I were)
– Þú værir (You were)
– Hann/hún/það væri (He/she/it were)
– Við værum (We were)
– Þið væruð (You all were)
– Þeir/þær/þau væru (They were)
Types of Icelandic Conditionals
Icelandic conditionals can be divided into several types based on the likelihood and nature of the condition being expressed. Here, we will discuss three main types: real, unreal, and past conditionals.
Real Conditionals
Real conditionals refer to situations that are possible or likely to happen. In these cases, the indicative mood is used in both the protasis and the apodosis.
For example:
– Ef ég kem snemma, förum við í bíó.
– If I come early, we will go to the cinema.
In this sentence:
– ‘Ef ég kem snemma’ (If I come early) uses the indicative form ‘kem.’
– ‘Förum við í bíó’ (we will go to the cinema) also uses the indicative form ‘förum.’
Unreal Conditionals
Unreal conditionals express hypothetical or unlikely situations. These use the subjunctive mood in the protasis and typically the conditional mood in the apodosis.
For example:
– Ef ég væri forstjóri, myndi ég breyta fyrirtækinu.
– If I were the CEO, I would change the company.
In this sentence:
– ‘Ef ég væri forstjóri’ (If I were the CEO) uses the subjunctive form ‘væri.’
– ‘Myndi ég breyta fyrirtækinu’ (I would change the company) uses the conditional form ‘myndi.’
Past Conditionals
Past conditionals discuss hypothetical situations in the past that did not happen. The subjunctive mood is used in the protasis, and the apodosis often contains a past conditional form.
For example:
– Ef ég hefði vitað það, hefði ég ekki farið.
– If I had known that, I would not have gone.
In this sentence:
– ‘Ef ég hefði vitað það’ (If I had known that) uses the past subjunctive form ‘hefði.’
– ‘Hefði ég ekki farið’ (I would not have gone) also uses the past subjunctive form ‘hefði.’
Special Cases and Variations
While the general rules cover most scenarios, there are special cases and variations to be aware of. These can add nuance and complexity to the use of the subjunctive mood in Icelandic conditionals.
Expressing Wishes and Desires
The subjunctive mood is often used to express wishes and desires, particularly in conditional sentences.
For example:
– Ef ég hefði meiri tíma, myndi ég læra fleiri tungumál.
– If I had more time, I would learn more languages.
Here, the speaker expresses a wish for more time, using the past subjunctive ‘hefði’ and the conditional ‘myndi.’
Politeness and Formality
The subjunctive mood can also be used to convey politeness or formality in conditional requests.
For example:
– Ef þú gætir hjálpað mér, væri ég mjög þakklátur.
– If you could help me, I would be very grateful.
In this sentence, the subjunctive ‘gætir’ softens the request, making it more polite.
Contrary-to-Fact Statements
When making contrary-to-fact statements about the present or past, the subjunctive mood is essential.
For example:
– Ef ég væri þú, myndi ég ekki gera það.
– If I were you, I would not do that.
This statement is contrary to fact because the speaker is not the listener. The subjunctive ‘væri’ indicates this non-reality.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learning the subjunctive mood in Icelandic can be tricky, and learners often make common mistakes. Here are some tips to help you avoid them:
1. Confusing Indicative and Subjunctive Forms:
Make sure to differentiate between indicative and subjunctive verb forms. Practice conjugating verbs in both moods to become familiar with the differences.
2. Using the Wrong Tense:
Pay attention to the tense you are using. Unreal conditionals often require the past subjunctive, while wishes and politeness might use the present subjunctive.
3. Overusing the Subjunctive:
While the subjunctive is important, it’s not needed in every conditional sentence. Use it appropriately for hypothetical, doubtful, or wishful scenarios.
4. Forgetting the Conditional Mood:
Remember that the apodosis in unreal conditionals often uses the conditional mood. Practice forming sentences with ‘myndi’ and other conditional forms.
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding of the subjunctive mood in Icelandic conditionals, here are some practice exercises. Try to form sentences based on the given prompts.
1. Translate the following sentences into Icelandic:
– If I were rich, I would buy a big house.
– If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
– If we have time, we will visit the museum.
2. Complete the sentences with the correct subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses:
– Ef ég (vera) ___________ þér, myndi ég tala við hana.
– Ef við (geta) ___________ farið, myndum við koma strax.
– Ef þú (hafa) ___________ meiri tíma, myndir þú læra meira.
3. Create your own conditional sentences using the following verbs:
– eiga (to own)
– læra (to learn)
– vinna (to work)
Conclusion
Mastering the subjunctive mood in Icelandic conditionals is a significant step towards fluency in the language. By understanding its forms and functions, you can express a wide range of hypothetical, doubtful, and wishful scenarios with precision and nuance. Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to verb conjugations, and apply what you’ve learned in real-life conversations. With dedication and effort, you’ll find yourself confidently using the subjunctive mood in Icelandic conditionals.
