Hefði

Hefði is a finite form of the Icelandic auxiliary verb hafa, meaning to have. It functions as the past subjunctive or conditional form and is used to form perfect tenses in conditional or hypothetical contexts. In ordinary Icelandic, hefði is paired with a past participle to express events that did not happen, or to describe what would have occurred under different circumstances.

Usage and meaning: Hefði is employed in conditional clauses and in the past perfect sense within hypothetical statements. It does not by itself denote a completed action; rather, it supports the perfect aspect when combined with a past participle. The mood conveys counterfactuality or contingency, such as imagined outcomes or unrealized possibilities. The verb form is used across persons, with the participle providing the main action.

Examples: Ég hefði farið ef ég hefði vitað. This translates to “I would have gone if I had known.” The structure can also express broader counterfactuals, for instance, in a sentence like Hún hefði gert það, ef hún hefði þurft. In everyday usage, hefði appears most often in conditional and hypothetical contexts and is a standard part of Icelandic grammar.

Etymology and relation to other forms: Hefði derives from the Icelandic verb hafa. It is the past subjunctive/conditional counterpart to haf, which appears in present and other tenses. Alongside other conjugated forms of hafa, hefði helps form nuanced expressions of possibility, condition, and past unrealized actions in Icelandic.