Conditional Clauses Omitting This Word: ef

Conditions Without Ef

Level 5

Hefði ég vitað það hefði ég komið. (Had I known, I would have come.) The verb hefði comes first and works like ef.

How It Works

How it works. Leave out ef and put the subjunctive verb before the subject:

  • Ef ég hefði vitað það → Hefði ég vitað það (Had I known it)
  • Ef ég væri ríkur → Væri ég ríkur (Were I rich)

Unreal conditions. The past subjunctive is the most common: hefði, væri, ætti, gæti. See ef + hefði and ef + past subjunctive.

  • Væri ég þú myndi ég fara til læknis. (If I were you, I would see a doctor.)

Real possibilities. In formal texts, the present subjunctive works too: Komi til verkfalls lokast skólarnir (Should there be a strike, the schools will close). Sé þess óskað means "if requested".

The main clause. The condition takes the first place, so the main clause starts with its verb: Hefði ég vitað það hefði ég komið. You can also start it with þá: Hefðum við farið fyrr, þá hefðum við náð ferjunni.

Register. This pattern sounds careful and a little weighty. In everyday speech, ef is more common.

Examples (6)

  1. Hefði ég vitað það hefði ég komið.

    Had I known, I would have come.

    Word by Word: Had I known it had I come.

  2. Væri ég ríkur keypti ég hús.

    If I were rich, I would buy a house.

    Word by Word: Were I rich bought I house.

  3. Væri ég þú myndi ég fara til læknis.

    If I were you, I'd see a doctor.

    Word by Word: Were I you would I go to doctor.

  4. Hefðum við farið fyrr, þá hefðum við náð ferjunni.

    Had we left earlier, we would have caught the ferry.

    Word by Word: Had we gone earlier, then had we reached the-ferry.

    þá can start the main clause.

  5. Komi til verkfalls lokast skólarnir.

    Should there be a strike, the schools will close.

    Word by Word: Come to strike close-themselves the-schools.

    A present subjunctive for a real possibility, typical of news.

  6. Sé þess óskað má senda reikninginn í pósti.

    If requested, the bill can be sent by post.

    Word by Word: Be of-it wished may send the-bill in post.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the subject first in the main clause.

    Hefði ég vitað það ég hefði komið.
    Hefði ég vitað það hefði ég komið.

    The condition takes the first place, so the main clause starts with its verb: hefði ég.

  • Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive.

    Hafði ég vitað það hefði ég komið.
    Hefði ég vitað það hefði ég komið.

    Only a subjunctive verb first can mean "if". Hafði ég vitað það sounds like a question.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Conditional Clauses Omitting This Word: efLevel 5Conditions Without Ef

Learn This First

Conditions without ef build on past unreal conditions.

Words in This Pattern

þá