hafa
To Have (Hafa)
hafa means to have: Ég hef ekki tíma (I don't have time). The singular forms change: hef, hefur, hefur.
How It Works
The forms. hafa is irregular in the singular of the present tense:
- ég hef (I have)
- þú hefur (you have)
- hann / hún / það hefur (he / she / it has)
- við höfum (we have)
- þið hafið (you all have)
- þeir / þær / þau hafa (they have)
Notice the vowel change: a becomes e in the singular and ö in höfum. After the verb, þú joins it as hefurðu (joined forms). In older and very formal writing you may also meet ég hefi; ég hef is the everyday form.
What hafa is used for.
- Time and abstract things: Ég hef ekki tíma (I don't have time). Hún hefur mikinn áhuga á tónlist (She is very interested in music).
- How someone is doing: Hvernig hefurðu það? (How are you?) and the answer Ég hef það gott (I'm fine).
- The perfect tense, with the supine: Ég hef komið til Íslands (I have been to Iceland). See hafa + supine.
- Fixed phrases such as hafa gaman af (to enjoy).
When not to use hafa. English "have" covers more ground than hafa. To own something, or to have family, friends or pets, use eiga: Ég á bíl, Ég á tvo bræður. To have something with you, or an illness or a feature, use vera með: Ertu með síma? Ég er með hausverk.
The object. The thing you have is in the accusative, as in mikinn áhuga and nógan tíma. The past tense is hafði (var/hafði/átti/vissi).
Examples (6)
- Ég hef ekki tíma núna.
I don't have time now.
Word by Word: I have not time now.
- Hvernig hefurðu það?
How are you doing?
Word by Word: How have-you it?
hefurðu is hefur þú joined together. The usual answer is Ég hef það gott.
- Hún hefur mikinn áhuga á tónlist.
She is very interested in music.
Word by Word: She has much interest in music.
- Við höfum nógan tíma.
We have plenty of time.
Word by Word: We have enough time.
höfum: the a of hafa becomes ö before the ending -um.
- Ég hef komið til Íslands.
I have been to Iceland.
Word by Word: I have come to Iceland.
hafa + supine makes the perfect tense.
- Þau hafa það gott í Kópavogi.
They are doing well in Kópavogur.
Word by Word: They have it good in Kópavogur.
Common Mistakes
Using the third-person form hefur with ég.
Ég hefur ekki tíma.Ég hef ekki tíma.With ég the form is hef. hefur is for þú and for he, she and it.
Using hafa for family members, the way English uses "have".
Ég hef tvo bræður.Ég á tvo bræður.Icelandic speaks of family, friends, pets and possessions with eiga. hafa here sounds foreign to Icelanders.
How It Connects
Learn This First
hafa is the next core verb after vera.
Related Patterns
- eigaTo Own (Eiga)
The verb for owning things and having family or pets.
Level 1 - vera meðHaving with You (Vera Með)
The everyday way to say you have something on you or have an illness.
Level 1 - hafa + SupineThe Perfect (Hef Talað)
hafa is the helper verb of the perfect tense.
Level 2 - ertu / viltu / talarðuJoined Forms (Ertu, Viltu, Talarðu)
Explains the joined question form hefurðu.
Level 1 - hafa gaman afEnjoying Things (Hafa Gaman Af)
A common fixed phrase built on hafa.
Level 2 - var / hafði / átti / vissiPast of Vera, Hafa, Eiga and Vita
Gives the past tense of hafa: hafði.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice hafa in Bubblegum
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